US3624843A - Combustion toilet - Google Patents

Abstract

A COMBUSTION TOILET HAVING A HOUSING WITH A TOILET SEAT THEREON. ROTATING POCKETS ARRANGED TO BE ROTATED FROM A WASTE RECEIVING POSITION BENEATH THE TOILET SEAT TO A POSITION WHEREIN THE POCKETS FROM PART OF A COMBUSTION CHAMBER, A BURNER IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER ARRANGED TO SUBJECT THE INTERIORS OF THE POCKETS TO A CLEANOUT FLAME WHEN THE POCKETS FROM PART OF THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND A VENT THROUGH WHICH GASEOUS PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION ARE RELEASED FROM THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. ROTATION OF THE POCKETS AND OPERATION OF THE BURNER ARE RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT OF THE ASSOCIATED TOILET LID.

Description

Dec. 7, 1971 y l C, M ANDRUS l 3\624,843

COMBUSTION TOILET Filed Aug. 25, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 "L IOc FIG. 3

:Mw/W1 ne:

CHARLES M. ANDRUS 1w: MALL/NCKRODT 8 MALL/NCKRODT ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 7, 1971 c. M. ANDRUS 3,624,843

COMBUSTION TOILET Filed Aug. 25, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 5

FIG. 8

INVUN l`( )H7 CHARLES M. ANDRUS HY.' MLL/NC/(RODT 8 MAL L/NCKRODT ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O1 hcc' 3,624,843 Patented Dec. 7, 1971 3,624,843 COMBUSTION TOILET Charles M. Andrus, Salt Lake City, Utah, assignor to Universal Development Company Filed Aug. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 575,074

Int. Cl. A47k 11/02 U.S. Cl. 4-131 24 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combustion toilet having a housing with a toilet seat thereon. Rotating pockets arranged to be rotated from a waste receiving position beneath the toilet seat to a position wherein the pockets form part of a combustion chamber, a burner in the combustion chamber arranged to subject the interiors of the pockets to a cleanout flame when the pockets form part of the combustion chamber and a vent through which -gaseous products of combustion are released from the combustion chamber. Rotation of the pockets and operation of the burner are responsive to movement of the associated toilet lid.

This invention relates to dry-type toilets and is particularly related to toilets that do not require an existing water supply or a `sewage disposal system for their operation.

Toilets that do not require a water supply or a sewage disposal system are required, for example, in under developed and wilderness areas, in construction camps, in transportable living accommodations, and on passenger transportation systems. Chemical toilets that either speed up or retard decomposition of waste material and that require holdin-g tanks for temporary storage have been frequently used in the past. However, these have not been satisfactory, and there has remained a need for a toilet that would quickly consume waste materials, thereby eliminating the handling yand storage problems associated with chemical toilets.

The need for such toilets has long been recognized. Thus, U.S. Pats. No. 2,768,386, No. 2,903,709, No. 3,092,049 and No. 3,110,037 each show a toilet intended to consume waste solids and to evaporate waste liquids placed therein through incineration.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a toilet that not only does not require an existing water supply Iand a sewage disposal system but that also does not require an existing electric power source.

Further objects are to provide such a toilet that is sanitary to use and quickly readied for repeated usage and one that is simply constructed and thoroughly and easily cleaned.

All parts of the toilet of the present invention are easily removable for cleaning purposes. In addition, the use of a plurality of bowls mounted to allow cooling air between them and adapted to be rotated sequentially into a position to receive waste material, a dumping position, a bowl clean-out position, and a cooling position insures that the bowls are properly flame-cleaned and that a bowl will be cooled and ready to receive waste material without undue delay. The dumping of waste material onto a grate insures effective burning with a minimum of heat being required in the bowls to thoroughly clean them.

The burner is actuated by movement of the toilet lid and is controlled by a timer. It can also be actuated in response to an accumulation of liquid and will then be operated to heat and evaporate the liquid down to a predetermined low level.

There is shown in the accompanying drawings a specific embodiment of the invention representing what is presently regarded as the best mode of carrying out the generic concepts in actual practice. From the detailed description of this presently preferred form of the invention, other more specific objects and features will become apparent.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the toilet of the invention, partially cut away to better show the over-al1 arrangement of the components;

FIIG. 2, a vertical section, taken on the line 2-2 of 1;

FIG. 3, a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2, showing the grate construction;

FIG. 4, a side elevation view with the housing partially broken away;

FIG. 5, a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6, a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4, with the toilet lid shown schematically in dotted lines;

FIG. 7, a vertical section taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8, a fragmentary vertical section, taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 9, a schematic representation of the electrical control circuit of the toilet.

In the illustrated preferred embodiment the toilet of the invention includes a housing 10 that has air inlet vents 10a around its base. A vent stack 10b extends upwardly from the top rear of the housing and a panel 10c at the front is removable to provide an access opening to the interior of housing 10. The housing may be constructed of sheet metal that is appropriately painted or of other durable material.

Insulating material 11 is provided on the inside of the top and side walls of the housing and on the bottom beneath a platform 12 that supports a burner unit 13 and a grate 14.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the bottom edge of the front panel 10c is adapted to t between upturned portions 15 of the housing and a pair of catch members 16 are adapted to be turned into engagement with a downturned lip 17 of the housing. Screw heads 18 on the ends of shafts 19 connected to the catch members 16 are adapted to receive the tip of a conventional screw driver (not shown) by which the catch members are turned into or out of engagement with the lip 17 during removal or placement of the front panel.

An annular opening is formed through the top of housing 10 and a chute 20 is inserted therein. The chute has a flange 20a adapted to be welded or otherwise fixed to housing 10 and extends downwardly into the housing and inside the sealing end flanges 21 of a bowl-carrying drum 22.

Drum 22 includes end flanges 21 that are interconnected by four spaced bowls 23, 24, 25 and 26, each of which includes a substantially convex trough portion 27 and a pair of legs 28 and 29 that are secured to plates 30 and 31 which are xed adjacent the opposite ends of a shaft 32. The spaces between the bowls allow air entering through vents 10a to be freely circulated. The bowls are preferably constructed of aluminized steel and will therefore cool rapidly.

Shaft 32, at its ends, is journaled through bearings 33 that are mounted on angle irons 34 and 35 on opposite sides of a support base 36. On the end of shaft 32 adjacent to angle iron 34 there is mounted a sprocket 37.

As is best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the support base 36 includes channels 38 that extend partially around the drum 22 and that receive the peripheries of the sealing end flanges 21. The channels and sealing end flanges combine to effectively confine flame and heat from burner 13 to the bowls and grate 14.

A piece of slotted angle 39 is connected to angle iron 34 by bolts 40 passed through the slot 41 and a sprocket 42 is carried by the slotted angle such that it is in alignment with sprocket 37. In this manner bolts 40 can be loosened to release angle 39, which can then be moved to tighten or release a chain 41a that is passed around sprocket 42 and beneath sprocket 37. When the chain tension is released sprocket 42 can be removed to allow the support base 36 and members carried thereby to be removed through the front of housing 10.

A rear portion of support base 36 serves as the grate 14 and includes rows of intercepting baffles 44, each of which has a pair of pins 44a projecting therefrom, and a forward portion of the support base supports an evaporator or ash pan 45 into which material from the grate will fall. Pan is easily removed through the opening in the front of housing separately from the support housing.

The Aburner unit 13 is carried at the extreme forward portion of support base 36 by a baille 46 that is bolted to the support base 36 and that prevents flame and heat being directed toward the front of the toilet and into a bowl in the position of bowl 26, FIG. 2. The main flame from the burner 13 is thus directed into the drum 22 and then against grate 14. Gas is supplied to the burner through a line 47 and a solenoid operated control valve 47a. Gas is also supplied to a pilot orifice 48, FIG. 9, from line 47, through an electricity generating unit 49, FIG. 9, that may, for example, be a Model VS 8194F manufactured by the Minneapolis Honeywell Corporation.

As will be further explained, after panel 11 and sprocket 42 have been removed and the line 47 has been uncoupled from the burner unit 13 the support base 36, drum 22, sprocket 37 and the burner unit 13 carried thereby can be removed from the front of the housing. It is, therefore, a simple matter to service or clean the support base, the drum, or the burner unit.

A pair of angles 50, FIG. 5, are fixed to the top of platform 12 and serve as guides for the support base 36 as it is moved into and out of the housing.

When the support base 36 is positioned in housing 10, the sprocket 42 is adjusted to provide the desired amount of tension on chain 41a, and the chain is driven by a sprocket 55 xed to a ratchet member 56, FIG. 6, that surrounds a shaft 57 on topl of housing 10. Shaft 57 is journaled through bearings 58 (FIG. 1) that are fixed to the top of the housing and provides a pivot axis about which extensions 59 of a toilet seat 60 are journaled.

A toilet lid 61 is fixed to shaft 57 by arms 62, and Whenever the lid is raised or lowered the shaft is rotated.

Another ratchet member 63 is fixed on shaft 57 such that pins 64 projecting from the face thereof are constantly biased by springs 65 into engagement with a cam surface 66 on the face of ratchet member 56. When the shaft 57 is rotated counter-clockwise (as viewed in the drawings) by the raising of lid 61 the pins ride freely over the inclined portions 66a of the cam surfaces 66 and the ratchet member 56 is not driven. However, when the lid is lowered and shaft S7 is rotated clockwise, the pins engage abutments 66h of the cam surfaces and the ratchet member 56 and drive sprocket 55 fixed thereto are turned. This turns sprocket 42 clockwise and sprocket 37, shaft 32 and the drum 21 one quarter turn counterclockwise.

As the toilet lid is raised and lratchet Imember 63 is turned counter-clockwise a beaded chain `67 that has one end anchored between upstanding ears 68 and 69 on the ratchet member is pulled. The other end of the chain is anchored between ears 70` and 71 in the groove of pulley 72 and as the chain is pulled, pulley 72 is rotated to turn the shaft 73 of a timer 74. When the lid is lowered and ratchet member 63 is turned clockwise the chain -becomes slack and the timer operates until pulley 72 has turned sufciently that the chain is again substantially taut and the timer has timed out an operating period. The timer may be of any satisfactory spring operated type.

A latch 80 (FIG. 2) is provided to prevent undesired rotation of drum 22 and to insure that a bowl is properly positioned beneath chute 20 whenever the toilet is used. The latch includes a catch member 81 that is pivoted at 82, intermediate its length, to the edge of a pan 83. `One end of catch member 81 is curved to form a nose 84 that will engage the edges of the bowls 23-26 and the other end is loosely connected to a plunger 85.

A spring 86 acts between a spring housing 87 fixed to housing 10, and a collar 88 on plunger 85 to bias the plunger upwardly. This normally holds the catch member in position for nose 84 to engage the bowls. When lid 61 is raised and shaft 57 is turned counter-clockwise a cam 89 engages the plunger 85 to force it down. This pivots the catch member away from its bowl engaging position. As the lid is lowered the drum is turned, and the catch member is again positioned to engage an edge of a bowl.

As will be further explained, a mercury switch 90 is mounted on shaft 57 such that it will open to stop operation of the burner unit each time the lid 61 is raised.

Pan V83 extends from within vent stack 10b to a point Where there is just sufficient clearance to allow the bowls to be rotated past as the drum is turned. Its underside thus forms a top wall that directs gasses from the burner into the vent stack and through an exhaust pipe 84 that passes through the pan to atmosphere.

A urinal trough 91 is xed to the vent stack, and by means of a brace 92, to the housing 10. A discharge tube 93 (FIG. 8) extends from a low point in the trough to pan 83 so that liquid from the trough drains into and is collected in the pan.

An open bottomed float housing 94 extends through the wall of vent stack 10b and into pan 83, and a oat arm 95 is pivoted on a pin 96 extending across the float housing. A mercury switch 97 in a housing 98 on the outside of the vent stack is xed to the end of arm 95 extending from the vent stack and a float guide rod 99 is pivotally connected to the other end. The float guide rod extends downwardly in the housing to a point near the open bottom of the float housing and the bottom of pan 83. A pair of adjustable upper and lower stops 100 and 101 are provided on the oat guide rod and a float 102 of suitable heat resistant material is mounted to freely slide along the guide rod between the stops.

When float 102 contacts upper stop 100, in response to a predetermined accumulation of liquid in pan 83, float arm 95 is tipped to close mercury switch 97, and, as will be further explained, to start the burner unit so that liquid is quickly evaporated from the pan. When the liquid level has been sufficiently reduced the oat contacts the lower stop and arm 95 is pivoted to open the mercury switch.

The sequence of operation is best explained with special reference to the schematic electrical diagram shown in FIG. 7.

Gas is supplied from any conventional source through line 47 to a manually lighted and continuously burning pilot orifice `48 through an electricity generating unit 49, which as was previously explained, generates the electricity required for control of the main burner valve 47a.

Lid `61 is raised, opening the mercury switch 90, winding the timer 74, and releasing latch 80. Waste material is deposited in whichever bowl is in the position of bowl 23, FIG. 1, and the lid is closed. As the lid is moved to the closed position the bowl containing waste material is turned one-quarter tur-n counter-clockwise and the latch 80 is again positioned to prevent over travel of the bowls and to assist in preventing gasses being discharged through the chute 20. As the bowl is turned its contents are deposited on grate 14, with solids being retained by the baies 44 and their pins 44a and liquids following the devious paths formed between the baffles toward the evaporator and ash pan 45.

At the same time, closing of lid 61 allows the timer to start and this closes a timer controlled switch 103 to complete a circuit from the generator 49 of the pilot unit, through the solenoid 47 of the main burner to open the main burner valve. Gas from the main burner is ignited by the pilot and will continue to burn until the timer times out and the switch 103 is again opened.

The burner flame is directed by a bame 104 (FIG. 2) on the end of the main burner upwardly into whichever bowl is i-n the downwardly facing position of bowl 25 in FIG. 2, sears the inside of that bowl and is directed by the conca-ve bowl configuration down to the grate 14. The heat thus created is passed over the grate, burning solids thereon and evaporating any liquid. The heat then travels into the bowl positioned as in bowl 24, FIG. 2 to burn any material not dumped therefrom before being exhausted through the vent stack b. Any liquids not evaporated before running into the pan 45 will be subjected to continuous heating by the flow from the pilot orifice and will be evaporated therefrom.

As one bowl is moved from beneath chute 20 and it contents dumped onto grate l14 another bowl that has been in the position of bowl 26, FIG. Z, is moved beneath the chute. Since this bowl has been out of the path of travel of the ame and heat and air has been freely circulating around it, it is cooled and is ready for usage shortly after the timer has timed out and the flame from the main burner has been cut-olf.

As the heat is discharged from the `grate through the vent stack 10b it passes beneath pan 83, heating it and causing liquids therein to be evaporated.

Should lid 61 be raised before timer controlled switch 103 has been opened mercury switch 90, which is connected in series with the timer switch, will open to cut oi power to the main burner and thereby close the main burner valve. The timer is then reset by the opening of the lid, the drum is rotated one-quarter tur-n, and when the lid is again closed the burner will again be tired.

Each bowl is name-cleaned twice; once while it is in the position of bowl 24 in FIG. 2 and again after it has moved to the position of bowl 25, FIG. 2.

Waste liquid discharged into the urinal trough will accumulate in pan 183, unless it is evaporated by use of the toilet and operation of the main burner in response to opening and closing of lid 61.

When the liquid in pan 83 reaches a predetermined level, as previously explained, float 102 will operate switch 97, which is connected in paralled with switches 90 and 103, to complete a circuit to open the main burner solenoid controlled valve. The burner will then continue to operate until the float contacts lower collar 101 and the switch 97 is opened.

Whereas there is here illustrated and specifically described a certain preferred construction of apparatus which is presently re-garded as the best mode of carrying out the invention, it should be understood that various changes may be made and other constructions adopted without departing from the inventive subject matter particularly pointed out and claimed herebelow.

I claim:

1. A combination toilet comprising a housing;

a vent extending from the interior of the housing upwardly therefrom;

an opening through the top of said housing;

a drum in said housing;

a grate in said housing and beneath said drum;

a burner unit in said housing;

a plurality of open mouthed, spaced apart bowls carn'ed by said drum;

means for rotating said drum, whereby the bowls are sequentially moved from a receiving position beneath the opening in the top of the housing, a dumping position wherein the contents are discharged onto the grate and heat passing over the grate enters the bowl, a clean-out position wherein ame from the burner unit is projected into the bowl and heat from the bowl is passed over the grate, and a cooling position; and

means for igniting gas supplied through said burner unit each time a bowl is moved to the clean-out position.

2. A combustion toilet according to claim 1, wherein the grate is inclined and said burner unit includes a pilot burner and burther including an evaporator 'and -ash -pan in the housing positioned to receive waste falling from said grate and to be continuously heated by the flame from the pilot burner.

3. A combustion toilet according to claim 1, wherein the grate includes channels at the opposite sides thereof;

and

the drum includes side flanges extending into the channels to direct heat into the bowls and over the grate.

4. A combustion toilet according to claim 3, wherein the grate, drum, and burner unit are carried by a support base that is removable from the housing.

5. A combustion toilet according to claim 1, further including means for preventing undesired rotation of the drum.

6. A combustion toilet according to claim 5, wherein the means for preventing undesired rotation of the drum includes a latch that additionally serves as a seal to prevent heat transmission from the grate to the opening through the top of the housing and directs heat from the grate to the vent.

7. A combustion toilet according to claim 6, further including a lid adapted to cover the opening in the top of the housing;

means for releasing the latch to allow movement of the drum as said lid is raised and for moving said latch to its position preventing undesired rotation of the drum as the lid is lowered; and

means for rotating the drum to position a 'bowl in the receiving position, another bowl in the dumping position, another bowl in the clean-out position and another bowl in the cooling position, as said lid is lowered.

8. A combustion toilet according to claim 7, wherein the means for igniting gas supplied through the burner unit each time a bowl is moved to the clean-out position includes a pilot burner; a timer, set by raising of the lid and started by lowering of the lid; a main burner arranged to have gas passed therethrough ignited by flame from the pilot burner; and a control valve through which gas is supplied to the main burner, said control valve being open during running of the timer. 9. A combustion toilet according to claim 8, further including a pan in the path of heat from said burner unit; a urinal trough fixed to the outside of said housing; a drain pipe from said trough and discharging into said pan; and means responsive to a high level of liquid in the pan to open the Imain burner valve and responsive to a low level of liquid in the trough to close the said valve. 10. A combustion toilet according to claim 9, wherein the grate is inclined and further including an evaporator and ash pan in the housing positioned to receive waste fallin-g from said grate and to be continuously heated by the flame from the pilot burner. 11. A combustion toilet including, in combination, a housing having an upper access aperture; a toilet seat disposed over and supported by said housing, said toilet seat registering with said access aperture; waste receiving drum means disposed within said housing beneath said access aperture; means for journalling said drum means to said housing for revolvement about a horizontal axis; means for controlling the revolvement of said drum means; a firing chamber disposed beneath and communieating with said drum means; a waste stack communicating with said firing chamber; and means for introducing a ame within said tiring chamber for subjecting to combustion the contents of said drum means and permitting the products of such combustion to proceed upwardly through said waste stack, said drum means including plural, w-aste receiving pockets progressively disposed about said horizontal axis, said pockets being of similar size, said firing chamber, drum means, and waste stack being so constructed and arranged that registry of one of said pockets with said access aperture is accompanied by registration of an adjacent one of said pockets with said ring chamber and said waste stack simultaneously, to provide communication from said firing chamber through said pocket to said Waste stack.

12. A combustion toilet including, in combination, a housing having an upper access aperture; a toilet seat disposed over and supported by said housing, said toilet seat registering with said access aperture; waste receiving drum means having plural waste-products receiving pockets and disposed within said housing beneath said access aperture; means for journalling said drum means to said housing for revolvement about a horizontal axis; means for controlling the revolvement of said drum means; a tiring chamber disposed beneath and communicating with said drum means; a waste stack communicating with said firing chamber and xedly disposed with respect to said housing rearwardly of said seat, said controlling means and drum means being mutually constructed and arranged to constrain said revolvement of said drum solely to rearward movement of an upwardly disposed wasteproducts receiving pocket thereof toward said Waste stack for combustion, and means for introducing a flame within said firing chamber for subjecting to combustion the contents of said waste-products receiving pocket of said drum means and permitting the products of such combustion to proceed upwardly through said waste stack.

13. Structure according to claim 11 wherein said housing is provided with detent means for facilitating said registration.

14. Structure according to claim 11, wherein said housing is provided with interior sides registering with extremities of said pockets.

1S. Structure according to claim 11, wherein said pockets are arranged in quadrature about said axis.

16. Struct-ure according to claim 11, wherein said tiring chamber includes an auxiliary opening registerable with the pockets, successively, of said drum means as they pass from registration with said firing chamber and said Waste stack to a next position.

17. Structure according to claim 11, wherein to accomplish said registration, said combustion toilet includes a pivotal lid selectively disposed over said toilet seat, said lid including a pivot rod journaled to said housing, said revolvement controlling means including means coupled to and 'between said drum means and said pivot rod for advancing said drum means in accordance with movement, in one direction only, of said lid.

18. A combustion toilet including, in combination, a housing having an upper access aperture; a toilet seat disposed over and supportedby said housing, said toilet seat registering with said access aperture; at least one waste receiving pocket means disposed within said housing beneath said access aperture; means for journaling said pocket means to said housing for revolvement about a horizontal axis; means for controlling revolvement of said pocket means, whereby said pocket means is revolved from a waste receiving position to a waste dumping and flame clean-out position; a firing chamber disposed beneath and communicating with said pocket means when said .pocket means is in said -waste dumping and ame clean-out position; means for introducing a flame into said pocket means within said firing chamber for subjecting to combustion the contents of said waste receiving pocket means; a waste stack in communication with said tiring chamber; and means, including said pocket means for directing the productions of such combustion to said waste stack.

19. A combustion toilet as in claim 18, further including a toilet lid .pivotally disposed over said toilet seat;

and wherein the means for controlling revolvement of the pocket means includes the toilet lid, whereby the pocket means is revolved -from the waste receiving position to a waste dumping position upon closing of the. toilet lid on the toilet seat and is also revolved upon opening of said lid.

20. A combustion toilet as in claim 19, further including means for initiating combustion upon closing of the toilet lid.

21. A combustion toilet as in claim 20, further including timer means controlling the means for introducing a ame into the combustion chamber whereby the duration of combustion is regulated.

22. A combustion toilet as in claim 21, further including grate means in the combustion chamber to receive material dumped from the cup.

23. A combustion toilet as in claim l22, further including a removable ash pan in the housing to receive ash remains of waste materials burned on the grate.

24. A combustion toilet as in claim 17, wherein the means for introducing a ame within said ring chamber includes a pilot orifice, a gas supply source, means including an electricity generating unit connecting said source and said pilot orifice, a main burner, means including a solenoid operated valve interconnecting the source and the main burner; and circuit ymeans including the electricity generating unit and the solenoid operated valve whereby the solenoid operated valve is operated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Frankel 4-131 X HENRY K. ARTIS, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. --9

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