US3597769A

US3597769A - Waste disposal system

Info

Publication number: US3597769A
Application number: US807028A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward C Brainard; Alexander G Vrouhart
Original assignee: General Time Corp
Current assignee: General Time Corp
Priority date: 1969-03-13
Filing date: 1969-03-13
Publication date: 1971-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-10

Abstract

This invention relates to a self-contained, noncontaminating waste disposal system useful over a prolonged period of time with particular utility in passenger carrying vehicles, such as waterborne pleasure craft. The system of the invention provides an impervious container into which is fed waste products and from which liquid effluent is removed by compression of the container. The container can be enveloped by an outer container which causes compression of the inner container. Liquid effluent removed from the inner container is then pasteurized so that only harmless pasteurized effluent is discharged from the system. Removal and pasteurization of effluent, moreover, can be effected even while waste products are being fed to the container. Also, the engine for a passenger carrying vehicle can be used in effecting compression of the container and in pasteurizing the drained effluent. After the container becomes so filled with solid waste products that appreciable amounts of liquid effluent can be no longer removed, the container itself can be removed from the system and either can be disposed of or reused after cleaning.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors Edward C. Bnlaan'l, 1];

Alexander G. Urouhart. both oi Marion. Mus.

[2]] App]. No. 807,028

Attorney-Pennie, Edmonds, Morton. Taylor and Adams ABSTRACT: This invention relates to a self-contained, noncontaminating waste disposal system useful over a period of time with particular utility in vehicles, such as waterborne pleasure era 6 5 63 5/ 30 ll. 2 2 r m Rh 0 BS 79 66 99 H 86 9 48 47 4 33 Primary Examiner- Henry K. Artis [22] Filed Mar. 13, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 10, I97] I 73] Assignee General Time Corporation Stamford, Conn.

prolonged passenger carrying ft. The system of the invention provides an impervious container into which is fed waste products and from which liquid effluent is removed b compression of the container. The container can be envelo b ped y an outer container which causes compression of the inner 9 um m Mm "3 md N3 0 m W t. l C m m H H U r container. Liquid effluent removed from the inner container is [50] Field 2l0/356 then pasteurized so that only harmless pasteurized effluent is discharged from the system. Removal a nd pasteurization of effluent, moreover, can be effected even while waste products are being fed to the container. Also, the engine for a passenger carrying vehicle can be used in effecting compression of the container and in pasteurizing the drained efi'luent. After the container becomes so filled with solid waste products that appreciable amounts of liquid effluent can be no longer removed, the container itself can be removed from the system and either can be disposed of or reused after cleaning.

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Patented Aug. 10, 1971 4 Shoots-Shoot 4 FIG. 7

mvam'oks MWARD chum) Jae/mm! Antwan 4am: (maul/4n? WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a waste disposal system for use where a conventional sewage system is not available, and more particularly, to a human waste disposal system for use in passenger can'ying vehicles, especially waterborne vessels.

Prior to the present invention disposal of waste products was not satisfactorily dealt with unless a conventional city or town sewage system was utilized. This was particularly the case in the disposal of human waste products in passenger carrying vehicles such as buses, mobile homes. and especially waterborne pleasure vessels or craft. Generally, system heretofore available merely collected the waste products. Because space was, and still is, at a premium, however, such collection systems were seriously limited in capacity. F urther more, these collection systems created added problems in handling and cleaning and required special equipment for such purposes at, obviously, additional costs.

Available systems, moreover, have not kept abreast of a growing body of legislation which require waste disposal systems to function as self-contained units without discharging any harmful waste products into our environment.

Additionally, space requirements and cost on the one hand and compliance with legislation on the other hand have made the waste disposal problem especially troublesome in pleasure craft which now abound our public bodies of water. But prior to the present invention the solution of this problem did not appear to be at hand. Rather, disposal of human waste products is still generally discharged overboard without treatment ofany kind.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a noncontaminating, self-contained disposal system useful over a prolonged period of time with particular utility in passenger-carrying vehlcles, such as waterborne pleasure craft.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a noncontaminating, self-contained waste disposal system having a waste product container which is compressible for removal of products therefrom;

A further object of the present invention is to provide the described container wherein the system removes effluent therefrom even while waste products are being fed thereinto, thereby providing a lightweight disposal system;

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a waste product container as described which is removable from the system;

Another object of the present invention is to provide for removal of liquid eflluent from the removable, compressible container while it is in place in the system and to pasteurize the removed effluent before dischar e to the surrounding environment so that the container nee only be removed when it is filled with solids, thereby providing a system of extended capacity for prolonged use while requiring a relatively small area for its operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a noncontarninating, self-contained waste disposal system having inner and outer containers wherein the inner container receives the waste product so that a multiwall closed construction is provided which insures against leakage of waste products to the immediately surrounding environment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a noncontaminating, self-contained waste disposal system having a storage tank with inner and outer containers wherein the inner container receives the waste products, is compressible for removal of liquid effluent while in the storage tank and is removable from the storage tank for disposing of solid waste matter, and wherein the outer container compresses the inner container for removal of liquid effluent.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a noncontaminating, self-contained waste disposal system wherein the engine, as is available in passenger-carrying vehicles, causes the outer container to compress the inner container of the described storage tank and pasteurize the liquid eftluent removed from the inner container.

Another object of the invention is to control the described operation of the engine so that liquid effluent is only withdrawn from the storage tank when such engine is hot enough to pasteurize the removed effluent.

In accordance with the foregoing, the present invention provides a self-contained waste disposal system admirably suited for the disposal of human waste products in passenger-carrying vehicles over a prolonged period of time without contaminating the environment. The noncontaminating, self-contained waste disposal system includes a container for receiving solid and liquid waste products and for discharging liquid offluent from such products. After the container becomes so filled with solid waste products that appreciable amounts of liquid eflluent can no longer be removed, the container itself is removable from the system and either can be disposed of or reused after cleaning. In the event the container is disposed of,

'it is, of course, replaced by another container.

For removal of liquid effluent, the system includes a drain line with separating means positioned in the container. With the separating means so positioned, the container is compressed and the separating means allows only the flow of liquid effluent into the drain line, leaving the solid waste matter in the container. Also, the container itself is preferably positioned to allow gravity to assist in the separation of solids and liquids while the separating means is preferably positioned in the container to optimize such natural separation.

The liquid efflu'ent removed from the container is pasteurized by the system to kill harmful contaminates at which time harmless, pasteurized, liquid effluent is discharged from the system without contaminating the environment. When liquid effluent is removed from human waste matter the temperature of the pasteurizer must be sufficient to kill the bacteria in the effluent. For this purpose the pasteurizer is maintained at a temperature of at least about F.

In addition, the container is compressible for removal of effluent even while waste products are being fed thereinto so that the system can be maintained at minimum weight at all times.

Thus, the present invention provides a waste disposal system from which harmless liquid effluent is discharged and from which solid waste products are removed by removing the replaceable container itself. Consequently, the system has extended capacity, is useable over a prolonged period of time, and provides space and weight economics, all without contamination of the surrounding environment. Where human waste matter is contained, moreover, solids are changed into liquids by the attack of the ever present anaerobic organisms, thereby further extending the capacity of the container of the present invention.

Also in accordance with the invention, the system includes a storage tank with a closed outer container that envelopes the described removable and compressible container to provide a multiwall closed construction which insures against leakage of waste products and odors to the immediate surrounding environment because the waste products are still contained within the confines of the outer container of the store tank.

With the multicontainer storage tank, the system of the in vention is ideally suited for use where vacuum drawing means and heat are readily available, as in the case of a passengercarrying vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine. For the engine itself can form part of the system and be useful in removing liquid effluent and in pasteurizing the removed effluent. in such instance, the outer container of the storage tank is provided with a flexible portion, and the system is provided with a vacuum line connected between the engine intake manifold and the space between the containers. For pasteurization, moreover, the effluent drain line is fed from the inner container into the engine, as by passing the drain line through the exhaust manifold with its end downstream in the engine exhaust pipe. At the same time temperature sensitive means are provided which allows effluent to be removed from the inner container only when the engine is at a temperature sufficient to pasteurize the liquid effluent.

In practice waste products, such as human waste matter and flushing fluids from a toilet in the vehicle, are fed into the inner container of the storage tank. Thereafter with the engine running at sufficiently high temperature to pasteurize effluent, the temperature sensitive means allows air to be drawn from the space between the containers via the vacuum line. A pressure differential is thereby effected across the outer container causing its flexible portion to collapse about and compress the inner container. This, in turn, causes liquid effluent to flow from the compressed inner container and into the drain line where it is pasteurized by the engine so that only harmless liquid effluent is discharged to the environment. In addition, as long as the engine is hot enough effluent can be continuously removed and pasteurized, even while the toilet is in use. By so doing the weight of the system is left at a minimum.

Additional objects and advantages will be set forth in part hereinafter and will be obvious heret'rom or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the steps, combinations and improvements pointed out in the appended claims.

Furthermore, the accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a part hereof illustrate the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS AND ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS FIG. I is a perspective view of one embodiment of the noncontaminating, self-contained waste disposal system of the present invention for use in passenger carrying vehicles and includes a storage tank having closed inner and outer containers, and the vehicle engine for removal of liquid effluent from the tank and for pasteurizing the removed effluent;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional of the storage tank shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is also a longitudinal sectional view of the storage tank of FIG. 1 illustrating compression of the inner container by the outer container for removal of liquid effluent;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the exhaust manifold of the engine illustrated in FIG. I showing the passage of the drain line therethrough for pasteurization of liquid effluent;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the control and regulating means for the waste disposal system shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodirnent ofthe storage tank of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the engine of FIG. I illustrating another embodiment for pasteurizing liquid effluent wherein the effluent drain line is connected to the engine cooling system.

Referring now in detail to FIG. I, there is shown the waste disposal system of the invention for use in marine craft. The system includes a suitable marine toilet III, a multicontainer closed storage tank I2, and a marine engine I4 which drives the craft as well as effect removal of liquid effluent from the tank I] and pasteurization of drained effluent.

The marine toilet I0 is suitably housed aboard the craft and includes a flush tank 16 connected thereto which contains water or other flushing fluids and is capable of flushing the waste products and flushing fluids from the toilet 10 into storage tank I2.

The storage tank 12 includes inner and outer, vertically positioned, closed containers l8 and 20. The outer container includes a rigid cylindrical base 22 and a flexible dome 24. The base 22 has a bottom 26 through which one branch 28 of a four-way sanitary coupling 30 extends and from which anchoring legs 32 depend. The flexible rubber dome 24, in turn, extends over the top of the inner container I8 and has a reinforced central portion 34 in contact with the top of the inner container I8. The sidewall 36 of the dome 24 extends downwardly over the upper portion of the inner container 18 and flares outwardly in a substantially horizontal manner over the upper edge of the base 22. In the upper end of the base 22 is a circular groove 38 into which the contiguous, overhanging, terminal portion of the dome 24 is maintained by a clamp 40 to thereby provide a closed leakpi'oof outer container 20 which with the inner container I8 forms vacuum chamber 42 therebetween.

The inner container I8 is impervious to the waste products it receives from the toilet 10 so that liquids, solids and gases will not seep or pass through its walls. Also, the inner container I8 is cylindrical in cross section and includes a neck 44 in the lower end which extends over the coupling branch 28 in a slidable manner. A quick acting clamp 46 secures the neck 44 to the branch 28 and automatically closes the neck 44 when the container 18 is removed from the tank l2. In addition, the container 18 is self-supporting so that in the assembled position it will not tilt even when filled, thereby further limiting the possibility of inadvertent separation of the inner container 18 from the coupling 30. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 there is also provided a split cylindrical support 45 supported by the base bottom 26 and having an inwardly sloping upper surface 47 upon which the outwardly sloping container lower wall 49 rests to assist stabilization of the container I8.

To facilitate compression of the inner container 18 its cylin drical sidewall 50 is of a bellow construction. In this illustrative embodiment the container I8 is formed from polyethylene by suitable plastic forming techniques. The capacity of the container 18 substantially depends on the number of persons who will use the toilet 10 over a period of time and the removal of liquid effluent from the container 10 during that period. For example, a container I8 having about a ZO-gallon capacity with about an l8 inch cross-sectional dimension will hold the flushing water and waste products secreted by six persons in the course ofa day without removal of any liquid effluent As shown in FIG. I waste products are conveyed to the storage tank 12 by a conduit 48 connected at one end 51 to the toilet and the other end to a horizontal branch 52 of the sanitary coupling 30. To prevent backflow from the storage tank 12 the intermediate portion 54 of the conduit 48 is in the form of an inverted U with the crest well above the toilet I0 and container 18.

For conveying liquid efiluent from the inner container I8 there is provided a flexible drain conduit 56 having a filter 58 which extends through aligned

openings

60 and 62 in the tops of the dome 24 and container 18 and is positioned in the upper portion 18. As illustrated the filter 58 includes a woven nylon sleeve 64 with an inner coil spring 66 to keep the sleeve 64 open. In operation the filter 58 allows only liquid effluent to flow therethrough, leaving solid waste matter in the container 18. Also, assisting separation of the solid and waste products within the vertically positioned container I8 is gravity and the positioning of the

conduits

48 and 56 with respect to the container I8. In addition, the septic tank action of anaerobic organisms in the closed container 18 digests solid waste matter producing additional liquid effluent therein.

In the illustrative embodiment, liquid effluent is pasteurized by feeding the flexible drain conduit 56 from the storage tank I2 to and into the engine 14 where, with the exhaust manifold 68 of the engine I4, it forms a heat exchanger. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 the drain conduit 56 enters the rear portion of the manifold 68, extends along the length of the manifold, loops back out of the manifold, and extends into and terminates the engine exhaust pipe 70 below the height of the exhaust manifold 68 to prevent backflow of discharged effluent. Thus, the conduit 56, in a serpentine fashion, forms a generally U-shaped heat exchange tube in the exhaust manifold 68. With this arrangement pasteurization of effluent is assured because the hot engine gases being exhausted are well above F., which as previously described is the temerature required to kill the bacteria in the effluent passing through the U-shaped drain conduit 56.

Turning now to the removal of liquid effluent from the container 18, a vacuum line 72 is connected into the air intake manifold 74 of the engine 14 and into the storage tank chamber 42, as shown in FIGS. and 5. Accordingly. air drawn from the chamber 42 by the manifold 74 cfl'ects a pressure differential across the flexible dome 24 causing it to collapse upon and compress the inner container 18. Liquid effluent is thereby forced to flow through the filter 58 and into the conduit 56.

In the illustrative embodiment, moreover, vacuum is normally drawn from chamber 42 whenever the engine 14 is hot enough to pasteurize drained effluent. A thermooperated valve 75 having a thermal responsive bimetallic actuator is connected in line 72 and mounted on the engine 14 for this purpose. When the engine 14 reaches the temperature at which its exhaust gases are hot enough to pasteurize effluent, the actuator opens the valve 75. As long as the engine 14 remains hot the valve 75 remains open and a vacuum is drawn. In turn, this causes the flexible dome 24 to continuously compress the inner container 18 so that effluent can be continuously removed from the container 18. Such "pumping down" significantly lightens the weight of the system, as well as extending its use and capacity.

In the vacuum line 72 there is also provided a backfire trap 76 of bronze wool which prevents engine backfire from passing back into the storage tank 12, and a normally open. one-way valve which prevents back tire of lower gases to the tank l2. Furthermore, valve 77 can be closed, if desired, to prevent vacuum from being drawn even when the engine 14 is hot.

To regulate the amount of vacuum being drawn, an adjustable flow meter 78 is provided in line 72 and a capillary 79 is connected into the chamber 42 through the outer container base 22. When vacuum is no longer being drawn from the chamber 42, the capillary 79 also allows air from the atmosphere to flow therethrough and into the chamber 42 to restore pressure equalization across the dome 24. In so doing the dome 24 will move away from the container 18 halting compression thereof and liquid effluent flow therefrom.

Additionally, to further assure that effluent will be pasteurized, there is provided in the conduit 56 a normally open, adjustable valve 80 which regulates the flow of effluent flow through the exhaust manifold 68.

While the illustrative system generally pumps down the container 18 whenever the engine 14 is hot, there are times when the container 18 will become full. For example, when the use of the toilet exceeds the lpumping down action" the container 18 will eventually become full. Further, the container 18 will become full where use of toilet "I continues even though the engine 14 is not running or when it is running cold. And the container 18 will become full when solids essentially consume container capacity so that "pumping down" will not provide container capacity. Under such conditions the toilet should not be used because waste products may back up from the tank 12. To indicate that the container 18 is full the system includes a signal device 81 which includes a limit switch 82 suitably connected to the electrical system of the craft. The switch 82 is mounted on the dome 24 with a waste product sensor extending into the container I8. Electrically connected to the switch 82 in an alarm 84 mounted near the toilet 10. When the switch 82 is closed by the waste product level in the inner container 18, the alarm 84 is actuated so that the person using the toilet 10 will know that either liquid effluent should be removed from the container 18 or that the container 18 itself should be removed. For added safety the signal device 81 can include a shutoff switch for the toilet 10 to prevent its further operation until liquid effluent is removed from the container 18.

When the liquid eflluent has been removed, as previously described, the limit switch 82 opens and the alarm 84 and/or toilet switch are opened to permit further use of the toilet l0.

When operation of the waste disposal system does not remove liquid effluent the alarm 84 and/or toilet switch will remain acmater! and the person will know that the inner container 18 is filled with solid waste products and that it must be removed from the tank 12. 1

In addition to being able to remove liquid effluent through drain conduit 56 and solid waste matter by removal of the inner container 1813M", the system includes

additional conduits

94 and 96, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, for removal of the waste products. The conduit 94 is connected to the other horizontal branch 98 of the coupling 30 and to deck pump fitting 100 aboard the craft. Correspondingly, the conduit 96 is connected to the other vertical branch 102 of the coupling 30 and extends through the hull of the craft. In the

conduits

94 and 96 are normally closed valves I04 and 106, respectively, which are selectively opened for removal of waste products through either the

conduit

94 or 96. At the same time normally opened valve 108 provided in the U-shaped conduit 48 is closed.

Generally in operation, however, the

valves

104 and 106 are closed and the valve 108 is opened. In using the toilet the waste products and flushing fluids will be conveyed, therefore, into the bottom of the container 18 through the conduit 48. As soon as the engine 14 is hot enough to pasteurize effluent, thermooperated valve 75 opens and vacuum is drawn from the chamber 42. In turn, the flexible dome 24 collapses upon and compresses the container 18 forcing liquid elfluent into the conduit 56 and through the exhaust manifold 68 where the hot exhaust raise the tern'perature of the effluent above I60 F. The harmless, pasteurized effluent is then discharged from the conduit 56 through the exhaust pipe 70 to the surrounding environment.

Should the container 18 become full then the signal device 81 will alert the user that the toilet 10 should not be used. When the engine i4 is running hot, the user simply has to wait until the pumping down action removes sufficient effluent to shut off the alarm 84 of the device 81. When the engine 14 is not running, the user must start the engine 14 and wait until it is sufficiently hot to pasteurize effluent. In either event when a sufficient amount of effluent is removed from the container 18 the alarm 84 shuts off and the user may go ahead with use of the toilet to.

When solid waste matter essentially fills the container [8, however, the alarm 84 will remain on because the collapsing dome 24 does not compress the inner container I8. To remove the inner container 18, the dome 24 and filtered end of the conduit 56 are removed from the storage tank I2 and the container 18 is lifted out. In so doing the clamp 46 closes the neck 44 as the container I8 is removed from the coupling 30. Thereafter a fresh container 18, or the same container 18 after it is cleaned, is put in place in the tank 12 and the dome 24 and filtered end of the conduit 56 are repositioned as described. The assembled storage tank 12 is then ready to receive waste products once again.

With reference now directed to FIG. 6, there is shown another embodiment of the storage tank of the invention which can be used in the described system in place of the already described tank 12. For convenience, in describing the storage tank shown in FIG. 6 the same numbers are applied for similar components as the numbers applied in describing the tank 12 except that a prime will now follow the number. In this embodiment the outer container 20' of the storage tank 12' is essentially the same as the outer container 20 except the breadth of the dome 24' is wider than the dome 24 to accommodate the structure the dome 24' contains. Housed within the container 20' is a nonexpendable but compressible retainer 110 which supports a nonself-supporting flexible container I12 that receives waste products as previously described.

The retainer 110 is cylindrical in cross section and extends between the base bottom 26' and the dome 24'. For compression without expansion, the retainer 110 has a sidewall 4 having a bellowed construction. Within the retainer H0 is the nonself-supporting flexible container 112. As the waste products are received the flexible container I12 expands pressing against the retainer sidewall 114 and moving up wardly toward the dome 14'. When the container 112 is filled it will contact the limit switch 82' and actuate the previously described alarm 84 alerting the user of the toilet that effluent must be removed from the container 112. At that time the engine l4 draws air from the chamber 42' between the outer container 20' and the retainer 110, effecting a pressure differential across the flexible dome 24'. This causes the dome 24' to collapse compressing, in this embodiment, the retainer 110 and the flexible container 112. Liquid effluent will then be forced from the container 112, through the filter 58' and into the drain conduit 56 ready for pasteurization by the engine 14. When the dome 24 no longer compresses the flexible container 112, the alarm remains on alerting the user that the container 112 is filled with solid waste matter. As in the other illustrative embodiment the container 112 is removable from the tank 12 and is disposable and can be replaced by a fresh container 112.

In addition to the illustrative embodiment, shown in FIGS. l 5, liquid effluent from the containers l8 and 112 can be pasteurized by feeding the effluent directly into the engine cooling system as schematically shown in FIG. 7. in so doing the cooling fluid must be maintained at a temperature of at least about l60 F. in order to kill the bacteria in the liquid effluent. Such elevated cooling system temperatures are normally encountered, for example, in marine engines operating in fresh water. These engines customarily use fresh water cooling system maintained at temperatures of about l60 F. to 180 F. for best engineoperating conditions.

Accordingly the conduit 56 can be directly connected into the water intake line 116 before the water pump H8. Liquid effluent from the conduit 56 will then mix with the cooling water and by the time the cooling water makes its cycles and enters into the exhaust I20 the effluent will be pasteurized. When effluent is not flowing into the engine-cooling system the cooling water continuing to pass through the cooling system flushes any remaining effluent out of the system.

Where marine engines use salt water in the cooling system, however, they are usually equipped with a l40 F. thermostat, or none at all. The cooling water will therefore be at a temperature of about 140 F. or less. Such lower temperatures are insufficient to pasteurize liquid effluent. In this case, and if the engine or its performance will not be adversely effected, a thermostat set at least l60 F. can be used to bring the temperature of the cooling system up to at least l60 F. At such elevated temperature the effluent can be then fed directly into the cooling system as described above.

Some marine engines, moreover, having closed cycle cooling systems which employ a heat exchanger through which the cooling water is fed. Where the engine block cooling water is maintained at a temperature of at least l60 F., the drain conduit 56 can be passed through the exchanger as described with respect to the use of the engine exhaust manifold 68 for pasteurization of the liquid effluent.

Furthermore, while the invention has been described with particular reference to a noncontaminating, self-contained system utilizing a marine engine, the invention is not limited thereto. For the present invention can also be used in passenger-carrying vehicles which are not equipped with any engine, such as sail boats. In such embodiment a vacuum pump or other means for compressing the waste product container, such as a spring operated mechanism, can be used for the removal of liquid effluent from the storage tank and a heater can be used to heat the drained effluent to 160 F. or other desired temperature and an audio or visual alarm can be provided alert the user that the storage tank is full. Also, the liquid effluent can be removed by bringing the boats to a central facility maintained at the dock for any number of craft. The invention, moreover, is not limited to marine craft but can be also used in other passenger-carrying vehicles such as buses, trucks, mobile homes or house trailers. In general the invention finds utility wherever conventional sewerage systems are not available. Thus, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited therefore to the illustrative embodiments but departures can be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principals of the inventions and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

We claim:

I. a self-contained, noncontaminatirrg waste disposal system comprising: a toilet for receiving human waste matter and flushing fluids; and impervious, compressible container for receiving waste products from said toilet; a conduit connected to said container for conveying waste products from the toilet thereinto; a drain conduit with a filter positioned in said container through which only liquid effluent from the contained waste products flows; compressing means operatively connected to said container for compression thereof to effect removal of liquid effluent flow therefrom through the filter and into said drain conduit; means operatively connected to said drain conduit for pasteurizing liquid effluent contained therein; and control means operatively connected to said compressing means for compression of said container whensaid pasteurizing means is at a temperature sufficient to pasteurize liquid effluent so that only harmless liquid effluent is discharged from the system.

2. A waste disposal system comprising: a storage tank having an inner impervious, compressible container for receiving waste products, and an outer container enveloping said inner container to provide a storage tank with a multiwall closed container which insures against leakage of waste products; a conduit connected to said storage tank for conveying waste products into said inner container; a second conduit connected to said storage tank for removal of liquid effluent from said container while it is positioned within the system; and means operatively connected to said storage tank for compressing said inner container to effect removal of liquid effluent therefrom; and pasteurizing means operatively connected to said second drain conduit for pasteurizing liquid effluent therein so that only harmless pasteurized liquid effluent is discharged from the system.

3. The waste disposal system set forth in claim 2, wherein said inner container is vertically positioned in said storage tank, and wherein said first conduit conveys waste products into the bottom of said inner container while said drain con duit receives liquid effluent from the top of said inner container.

4. The waste disposal system set forth in claim 2, wherein said inner container is self-supporting within said storage tank and has compressible sidewalls.

5. The waste disposal system set forth in claim 2, wherein said inner container is flexible and nonself-supporting and wherein said storage tank includes a retainer for supporting said inner container.

6. A self-contained, noncontaminating waste disposal system comprising: a toilet for receiving human waste matter and flushing fluids; a storage tank having an inner, impervious, removable, compressible container for receiving waste products, and an outer container enveloping said inner container and forming a chamber therebetween, and wherein said outer container includes a flexible portion; a conduit connected to said toilet and storage tank for conveying waste products into said inner container; vacuum drawing means connected into said chamber between said containers for withdrawing air therefrom to cause said flexible portion of said outer container to collapse upon and compress the inner container and thereby effect removal of liquid effluent from said inner container; a drain conduit connected to said storage tank for removal ofliquid effluent from said compressed inner container; pasteurizing means operatively connected to said drain conduit for heating liquid effluent therein to a temperature of at least F.; and control means connected to said vacuum drawing means and said pasteurizing means for allowing air to be drawn from said chamber only when said pasteurizer is at a temperature sufficient to pasteurize liquid effluent so that only harmless pasteurized liquid is discharged from the system; and wherein said inner container is removable from the system; and wherein said inner container is removable from said storage tank to dispose of the retained solid waste products.

7. A self-contained, noncontaminating waste disposal system for passenger-carrying vehicles driven by an engine with an air intake system comprising: a toilet for receiving human waste matter and flushing fluid; a storage tank having an inner impervious, compressible, removal inner container for receiving the waste products from said toilet, and an outer container enveloping said inner container and forming therewith a chamber therebetween, and wherein said outer container has a flexible portion; a conduit connected to said toilet and said storage tank for conveying waste products from said toilet into said container; a drain conduit connected to said inner container with a filter positioned therein through which only liquid effluent flows to the engine for pasteurizing liquid effluent in said drain conduit; a vacuum line connected to said chamber between said containers and to the air intake of the engine for drawing air from said chamber to eifect a pressure differential across said flexible portion of said outer container to cause it to collapse upon and compress said inner container whereupon liquid effluent flows through the filter and through the drain conduit where it is pasteurized by the engine; and control means connected to said vacuum line for allowing air to be drawn from said chamber whenever said engine is at a temperature sufficient to pasteurize liquid effluent so that only harmless, pasteurized liquid effluent is continuously discharged therefrom.

8. The self-contained, noncontaminating waste disposal system set forth in claim 7, wherein a signal means connected to said storage tank is provided which indicates when said inner container is filled.

9. The self-contained, noncontaminating waste disposal system set forth in claim 8, wherein the control means includes a thennooperated valve connected in said vacuum line.

l0. The self-contained, noncontaminating waste disposal system set forthin claim 9, wherein the control means also includes a backfire traticonnected in the vacuum line to the engine backfire from flowing into the storage tank, and a normally open one-way valve which permits vacuum to be drawn but which prevents raw fumes from the engine from flowing back into said storage tank.

ll. The self-contained, noncontaminating waste disposal system set forth in claim 8, wherein said drain conduit enters and leaves the rear portion of said engine manifold and is U- shaped in passing therethrough.

12. The self-contained, noncontaminating waste disposal system set forth in claim 7, wherein said engine is water cooled and includes a thermostat to maintain the cooling water at a temperature of at least F., and wherein said drain conduit is connected to the intake of said engine-cooling system.

l3. The self-contained, noncontaminating waste disposal system set forth in claim 8, wherein said inner container is vertically positioned in said storage tank, and wherein said first conduit is connected into the bottom of said inner container while said drain conduit is connected into the top thereof.

14. The self-contained, noncontaminating waste disposal system set forth in claim 10 for marine craft, wherein the system includes another conduit having a normally closed valve connected to said inner container and a deck pump fitting aboard the craft, and a still further conduit also connected to said inner container having a normally closed valve and extending through the hull of the craft.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, Dated August 10; Inventor(s) Edward Chauncey Brainard, II and Alexander George It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 15, "system" should be --systems--.

Column 2, line 62, "store" should be -storage-.

Column 7, line '70, after "vided" the word "to" should be inserted.

Column 8. line 8 (Claim' 1, line 1) "a" should be --A-.

Column 9, lines 2 and 3 (Claim 6, lines 23 and 24) cancel "and wherein said inner container is removable from the system;

Signed and sealed this 21st day of March 1972 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.PLETCHER",JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

2. A waste disposal system comprising: a storage tank having an inner impervious, compressible container for receiving waste products, and an outer container enveloping said inner container to provide a storage tank with a multiwall closed container which insures against leakage of waste products; a conduit connected to said storage tank for conveying waste products into said inner container; a second conduit connected to said storage tank for removal of liquid effluent from said container while it is positioned within the system; and means operatively connected to said storage tank for compressing said inner container to effect removal of liquid effluent therefrom; and pasteurizing means operatively connected to said second drain conduit for pasteurizing liquid effluent therein so that only harmless pasteurized liquid effluent is discharged from the system.
3. The waste disposal system set forth in claim 2, wherein said inner container is vertically positioned in said storage tank, and wherein said first conduit conveys waste products into the bottom of said inner container while said drain conduit receives liquid effluent from the top of said inner container.
4. The waste disposal system set forth in claim 2, wherein said inner container is self-supporting within said storage tank and has compressible sidewalls.
5. The waste disposal system set forth in claim 2, wherein said inner container is flexible and nonself-supporting and wherein said storage tank includes a retainer for supporting said inner container.
6. A self-contained, noncontaminating waste disposal system comprising: a toilet for receiving human waste matter and flushing fluids; a storage tank having an inner, impervious, removable, compressible container for receiving waste products, and an outer container enveloping said inner container and forming a chamber therebetween, and wherein said outer container includes a flexible portion; a conduit connected to said toilet and storage tank for conveying waste products into said inner container; vacuum drawing means connected into said chamber between said containers for withdrawing air therefrom to cause said flexible portion of said outer container to collapse upon and compress the inner container and thereby effect removal of liquid effluent from said inner container; a drain conduit connected to said storage tank for removal of liquid effluent from said compressed inner container; pasteurizing means operatively connected to said drain conduit for heating liquid effluent therein to a temperature of at least 160* F.; and control means connected to said vacuum drawing means and said pasteurizing means for allowing air to be drawn from said chamber only when said pasteurizer is at a temperature sufficient to pasteurize liquid effluent so that only harmless pasteurized liquid is discharged from the system; and wherein said inner container is removable from said storage tank to dispose of the retained solid waste products.
7. A self-contained, noncontaminating waste disposal system for passenger-carrying vehicles driven by an engine with an air intake system comprising: a toilet for receiving human waste matter and flushing fluid; a storage tank having an inner impervious, compressible, removal inner container for receiving the waste products from said toilet, and an outer container enveloping said inner conTainer and forming therewith a chamber therebetween, and wherein said outer container has a flexible portion; a conduit connected to said toilet and said storage tank for conveying waste products from said toilet into said container; a drain conduit connected to said inner container with a filter positioned therein through which only liquid effluent flows to the engine for pasteurizing liquid effluent in said drain conduit; a vacuum line connected to said chamber between said containers and to the air intake of the engine for drawing air from said chamber to effect a pressure differential across said flexible portion of said outer container to cause it to collapse upon and compress said inner container whereupon liquid effluent flows through the filter and through the drain conduit where it is pasteurized by the engine; and control means connected to said vacuum line for allowing air to be drawn from said chamber whenever said engine is at a temperature sufficient to pasteurize liquid effluent so that only harmless, pasteurized liquid effluent is continuously discharged therefrom.
8. The self-contained, noncontaminating waste disposal system set forth in claim 7, wherein a signal means connected to said storage tank is provided which indicates when said inner container is filled.
9. The self-contained, noncontaminating waste disposal system set forth in claim 8, wherein the control means includes a thermooperated valve connected in said vacuum line.
10. The self-contained, noncontaminating waste disposal system set forth in claim 9, wherein the control means also includes a backfire trap connected in the vacuum line to the engine backfire from flowing into the storage tank, and a normally open one-way valve which permits vacuum to be drawn but which prevents raw fumes from the engine from flowing back into said storage tank.
11. The self-contained, noncontaminating waste disposal system set forth in claim 8, wherein said drain conduit enters and leaves the rear portion of said engine manifold and is U-shaped in passing therethrough.
12. The self-contained, noncontaminating waste disposal system set forth in claim 7, wherein said engine is water cooled and includes a thermostat to maintain the cooling water at a temperature of at least 160* F., and wherein said drain conduit is connected to the intake of said engine-cooling system.
13. The self-contained, noncontaminating waste disposal system set forth in claim 8, wherein said inner container is vertically positioned in said storage tank, and wherein said first conduit is connected into the bottom of said inner container while said drain conduit is connected into the top thereof.
14. The self-contained, noncontaminating waste disposal system set forth in claim 10 for marine craft, wherein the system includes another conduit having a normally closed valve connected to said inner container and a deck pump fitting aboard the craft, and a still further conduit also connected to said inner container having a normally closed valve and extending through the hull of the craft.