WO2004008930A1

WO2004008930A1 - Three part urine separating dry toilet

Info

Publication number: WO2004008930A1
Application number: PCT/SE2003/001153
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mikael Billsund; Kjell Henriksson
Original assignee: Separett Ab
Priority date: 2002-07-23
Filing date: 2003-07-02
Publication date: 2004-01-29
Also published as: NO325244B1; CN1470210A; SE0202312L; NO20050946L; SE0202312D0; EP1538962A1; SE526298C2; AU2003239101A1; CN1247145C

Abstract

A dry toilet (200) which separates urine and solid excrement, wherein urine is conveyed away and the solid excrement is collected in a composting container (221) in the interior of the toilet. The toilet comprises a lower part (220) and a middle part (210), wherein the toilet (200) encloses a removable composting container (221). The toilet further comprises an upper part (230) which can be removed between a closed and an open position, wherein the removable composting container can be removed out of the toilet from the lower part of the toilet (200) through an opening between the middle part (210) and the upper part (230) of the toilet (200) in the open position, wherein the middle part (210), the lower part (220) and upper part (230) of the toilet (200) are firmly connected to each other.

Description

THREE PART URINE SEPARATING DRY TOILET

Technical field

The present invention relates to a device at a urine separating dry toilet and more particularly to a device for facilitating emptying of the solid excrement which is collected in a container in the interior of the toilet.

Prior art

Urine separating dry toilets, also called urine separating environmental toilets, have been developed because dry toilets produce odours. The odour arises in conventional dry toilets, i.e. toilets without water flushing and sewer; because urine and faeces are mixed in the same container wherein the mixture ferments and generates ammonium and also hydrogene sulfide which produces an unpleasant intense latrine odour which has to be aired away. Hence, one has been forced to draw ventilation channels upwards through the ceiling in order to reduce the odour both indoors and outdoors at ground level . One example of existing installations of dry toilets 1 with separation of the human urine and the solid excrement is shown in Fig. 1A, IB and 1C. These generally illustrate a device for separating urine and faeces and are positioned on a floor 160 and against a wall 140, which in general is an exterior wall. The urine flows out of the toilet either through a sewage pipe 150 to the drain of a handbasin or of a shower, further to an infiltration in a sandbed or to a tank in order to be used later as fertilizer. In that way the urine can no longer cause any bad odour. The solid portion 171, i.e. the faeces together with paper, ends up in a composting container 170 inside the toilet. After a while, i.e. 15-30 minutes, the surface of the faeces has dried. When this has taken place the odour from the faeces is also gone. Ventilation is either established by natural ventilation or by means of a ventilation fan 132, usually in a ventilation package, that keeps the space inside the toilet clear of odour and humidity. Likewise, the separation of wet and dry products makes it odourless outdoors whither the ventilation air is directed through a ventilation channel such as a ventilation conduit 131. This implies that the ventilation normally can pass through a rear wall, a gable or the roof of a building, in which the toilet is located, and it can terminate there. Thus, the capacity of the toilet gets very high in combination with compact dimensions. The urine, which stands for about 85% of the volume which is directed away and the remainder 171, which ends up in the container 170, is lifted out together with the container, as shown in Fig. 1C, and is composted after that. An empty container 170 is inserted into the toilet 100, which then can be used again. The interior container 170, which is lifted out, is placed on an appropriate location in the garden. Earth is mixed into it and a cover is put on, however, an opening is left so that the compost is aired and the composting container 170 is left in this condition for approximately 6 months. Thereafter the contents are composted and constitutes an excellent soil improvement agent, which subsequently for example can be used in the garden.

Known urine separating dry toilets 100 commonly consist of two parts and comprise an upper part 110 and a lower part 120, wherein the upper part among other things comprises the toilet seat 111 and the toilet lid 112. The compositing container 170 is located in the interior of the toilet 100 and the upper part 110 of the toilet 100 is arranged on top of the lower part 120. The size of the composting container 170 is chosen as large as possible with respect to the interior space of the toilet so that a capacity as high as possible is^' achieved. When the composting container 170 is to be lifted out of the toilet, for example when it is full, the upper part 110 of the toilet 100 has to be removed from the lower part 120 as illustrated in Fig. 1C. The upper part 110 is placed in a suitable location. The upper part 110 has to be moved from the lower part because the composting container is too large to be removed through the upper toilet opening which is limited by the toilet seat. When the upper part has been removed, the ventilation fan no longer fulfills the function of airing away the odour.

This entails a number of problems.

Partly it is difficult to place the upper part in a suitable location, when it has been unfastened from the lower part and is to be moved so that the composting container can be reached, because the upper part has a large surface and volume and that the toilet often is placed in narrow rooms in for example vacation cottages. Often the exhaust air tube is fixed to the upper part of the toilet and consequently it has to be disconnected from the upper part before the upper part itself can be removed from the lower part of the toilet. Moreover, the upper part is mounted to the lower part by means of suitable fastening means such as screws. When the upper part is removed from the lower part and moved one has on one hand to use a great deal of time in order to open and therafter to close the fastening means and on the other hand the fastening means can be lost and in that case the upper part cannot be fixed to the lower part in a reliable manner after the composting container has been exchanged.

It is also unhygienic to exchange the container in the above described manner. Partly urine remainders may be found left in the upper part when it is removed and in that way the remainders are spread and one is forced to clean up. Furthermore, the odour and sight of the contents of the ^•container are conceived as unpleasant .

There is a need for a solution to the aforementioned problems .

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is to solve the problems described above in order to provide a separating dry toilet which easily can be emptied of the solid excrement, which is found in the interior of the dry toilet .

The invention comprises a dry toilet which separates urine and solid excrement according to claim 1, wherein the urine is conveyed away and the solid excrement is collected in a container in the inside of the toilet, which comprises a lower section and an upper section, wherein the toilet comprises a removable composting container and the upper section of the toilet comprises an upper part which can be moved between a closed and an open position, wherein the toilet is arranged to be used in the closed position. The removable composting container can be conveyed or removed respectively from the toilet out of the lower section of the toilet through an opening between a middle part and the upper part of the toilet in the open position. The upper section which comprises the upper part and the middle part as well as the lower section of the toilet are firmly connected to each other.

Short description of the drawings On the drawings the invention is illustrated in greater detail by means of a schematically illustrated embodiment, wherein

Fig. 1A is a sectional side view showing a prior art urine separating dry toilet; Fig. IB is a planar view showing the same known toilet seen from above;

Fig. 1C is an illustration of the emptying of known dry toilets; Fig. 2A is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a three part dry toilet according to the inven ion;

Fig. 2B is a transparent planar view showing the toilet according to the embodiment from above with sectional surfaces A-A and B-B;

Fig. 2C is a sectional view through the toilet along the line A-A in Fig. 2B;

Fig. 2D is a sectional view through the toilet along the line B-B in Fig. 2B; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the main components of the three part toilet;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the toilet in raised position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view seen from below showing the middle part and the upper part of the toilet;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view seen from below showing the upper part ;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the lower part of the toilet; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view over a composting container with a cover according to the embodiment.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

Figs. 2 to 8 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2A shows a urine separating dry toilet 200 according to the invention in an assembled state ready for use. The connection for electricity, urine sewer and exhaust air are connected in a suitable way when the toilet is placed into a suitable room. The exhaust air is by means of a channel 216 connected to a sleeve coupling at the top of the upper side of the middle part. Electricity is connected by means of an accompanying cable through a hole 247 in the lower part 220 which has an integrated bushing which is positioned in the rear area of the upper part according to Fig. 7. The pipe of the urine drain is also drawn out through the rear section of the lower part or alternatively on the left or right side. The toilet 200 consists of a middle part 210 and a lower part 220, which are assembled in a tightly sealing manner at an edge 213. In the middle part there is an upper part 230, which is assembled with the middle part 210 at an edge 214. The upper part 230 also has a toilet seat 231 and a toilet lid 232. The Figs. 2C and 2D show in an elucidating way how certain details of the toilet, such as the sewer pipe 215, which run inside the toilet 200.

In Fig. 3 the middle part 210, the lower part 220 and the upper part 230 of the toilet 200 from Fig. 2 are shown removed from each other so that certain details, which are located in the interior of the toilet in the assembled state, can be better perceived. In that way it becomes clear that the upper part 230 comprises a urine separator 233 which leads to a sewer pipe 215 for urine in the middle part 210. The middle part 210 comprises fastening means 211, 212 for fastening the upper part to the middle part 210. The fastening means 211, 212 will be described below in more detail. The lower part 220 comprises a ventilation fan in a ventilation fan housing 223 for the purposes of generating exhaust air, removing bad odour and drying the solid excrement, which is located in a composting container 221, which e.g. can be a bucket-like plastic container. The air flows through a ventilation grill in the insight protection with a downwards directed action for a maximum evaporation and is taken in between the upper part and the seat at its front edge. The ventilation fan is surrounded by a Basotec-like material in the ventilation fan housing. This leads to a reduction of vibrations and of the sound level. The ventilation fan housing is also a fastening means for a connection splint on the outside of the ventilation fan housing. The ventilation fan housing is at its lower part screwed on the lower part of the toilet, as e.g. in attachment wells with plastic nuts applied to screws. A gasket lies on top of the ventilation fan housing against the underside of the sleeve coupling of the middle part in order to reduce vibrations in that direction. The filter, which is arranged on a filter carrier at the ventilation fan housing, is another function of the ventilation fan housing 223. The filter carrier is shaped so that one easily can remove the filter by taking up an easily holdable handle for removal and cleaning of the filter itself.

The composting container 221, which is located in the interior of the toilet, is shown with a cover 222 fitted onto the container, wherein the cover is removed before the toilet is put into use. The cover 222 is used during the composting period.

The toilet 200 is shown in Fig. 4 in an assembled condition with the upper part 230 in raised position so that it is possible to remove the composting container 221 out of the toilet 200. The upper part 230 is fixed with fastening means 212, which engage the rear underside of the upper part and which are fixed connected with arms 211. The arms are connected with the middle part 210 at its upper rear inner side by means of an axis 237, which is shown in Fig. 5, so that the upper part can pivot with a circular motion around axis 237 towards the middle part 210 as illustrated in Fig. 4. The upper part 230 is kept in the open position by means of hooks 238, which are articulately connected with fastening means 211, 212. When the upper part is raised, the hooks 231 slide through elongated openings 239 in the middle part. Recesses 240 in the hooks 238 hitch the lower edge onto the elongated openings 239, whereby the upper part 230 is kept in the open position. The upper part 230 is lowered by way of lifting the hooks 238 so that these subsequently slide back through the elongated openings 239, when the upper part 230 pivots around the axis 237. The upper part 230 also comprises the urine separating part 233 with a leadthrough 234 to the urine sewer and with an insight protection 235. The urine drain is preferably equipped with a grill as shown in Fig. 4 at the leadthrough 234 so that no foreign objects can pass down the urine drain. The inside protection 235 obstructs direct insight into the composting container 221 when one opens the toilet lid. The inside protection 235 is moved aside in order to give away to a opening from above to the composting container when one sits down onto the toilet seat and the wire 242 is stretched.

Fig. 5 shows the upper part 230, which is assembled with the middle part 210, from below in closed position.

The axis 237 is located on the rear inside the interior of the middle part 210. The arms 211 and consequently also the upper part 230 are pivoted in axis 237. An axis 241 is arranged on each arm 211 in order to pivotly connect the upper part with the hooks 238. Fastening means 236 such as screws engage fasteners 226, such as screw wells, in the lower part, as shown in Fig. 7, and hold the middle part 210 in position when the toilet 200 is in the assembled state according to Fig. 1. In Fig. 6 the upper part 230 is shown and also that the arms 211 have holes 217 through which the axis 237 runs in the assembled state of the toilet 200. A moving device 243 is activated each time one sits down onto the seat 231. The device 243 serves a selfacting dual purpose which on one hand is to move the insight protection 235 by means of wire 242 so that it pivots aside, and on the other hand to .simultaneously move a rotating disc 225 with the container 221 by means of a peg which pushes a button in the middle part and which then goes through a wire 250 (see Figs. 2A, 2B) down to rotating mechanism 251. A rotating disc is located on a shoulder 252 and is driven by means of a rotating mechanism 251 for example by means of hooks which engage recesses/hooks in the side wall of the rotating disc. The rotating mechanism 251 is designed with an integrated spring function which gives a constant load in order to hitch into the hooks of the wall of the rotating disc.

The lower part 220 of toilet 200 is shown in Fig. 7 and comprises the aforedescribed fasteners 226. Wings 227 are designed in such a way that the middle part 210 is directed into position when it is put into position at the time of the assembly of the toilet. Moreover, the wings 227 increase the stability of the toilet in the assembled state because they prevent that the walls of the middle part 210 move from their ideal position. A rotating disc 225 for the composting container 221 is rotatably designed so that the composting container 221 is kept in position, yet it can revolve after each use of the toilet in order to evenly distribute the solid excrement in the composting container 221. The lower part also comprises a fastening means 246 which matches the lower part of the ventilation fan housing 223. Passages 244 for sewer pipes on the right and left rear side of the lower part make the toilet adaptable to installation requirements. In order to switch the side for the sewer pipe one turns the urine separator in the middle part and subsequently the sewer pipe is moved to the other side. The sewer pipe is connected to the urine separator by means of an O-ring along with a bayonet joint so that the parts cannot disconnect from each other. The sewer pipe is designed with an oval shape (see Fig. 2B) in order to save ID

space and in order to find room for the container 221.' A passage way hole 247 with integrated bushing for cables is used as a passage to the ventilating fan housing. The lower part also comprises a fastening means 245 for the toilet. Means 245 are intended for a carrier plate for fastening of a console which is screwed to a wall during installation of the toilet. Preferably a flexible list 248, such as a silicone list, is fixed to the underside of the lower part and has the function to seal against the floor in case the floor is uneven and also to prevent water from e.g. a shower, as well as other liquids, from penetrating under the toilet. A ball track 255 is integrated into the lower part and the rotating disc. This results in fewer parts and in combination with the selection of the material for the balls the rotating disc 225 moves noiseless. Leakage liquid which possibly can originate from the composting container in the toilet is collected in collecting area 254 by way of the design of the ball track 255 and the shoulder 252, so that leakage liquid is collected, dries up and in that way cannot harm parts in the interior of the toilet and also that a certain amount of leakage liquid is collected before it can flow out of the toilet.

The composting container 221 is moved out of the toilet by way of opening the upper part a short distance, so that there is room for the cover in the gap which is formed between the upper part and the middle part, and thereafter the cover is introduced into the gap between the upper part and the middle part . Thanks to the design of the middle part the cap ends up in the correct position in relation to the container. Subsequently, the upper part is raised to its upper position. Hereby possible urine remainders, which are left in the urine separator 233, end up in the container 221 by the remainders flowing down into the container in an appropriate way. Thereafter the cover is pressed upon the container. Thus, it is achieved that the contents in the composting container is also protected from insight when the cover is. inserted, while the toilet is opened in order to exchange the composting container, and the possible odour-, which can arise during the opening process, is minimized. Thereafter one inclines the container towards oneself, when standing in front of the toilet, and one pulls up the container, whereby the container slides on preferably three sliding surfaces which are arranged on the front edge of the middle part and also that the container gets the kind of angle that makes it possible to easily raise the container out of the toilet. Thus, it is made possible to change the composting container in both a very hygienic and easy way.

In Fig. 8 a composting container 221 is shown with a cover 222, wherein the container is in composting position. A spacer latch 253 is folded down and locks in a particular position so that the faeces are supplied with air and can be composted. The container 221 is preferably used with a suitably rigidity of the closure between the cover 222 and the container 221. The spacer latch 253 is also shown in

Fig. 3 in a position in which the cover terminates sealingly on the container 221 so that the odour remains inside the container when one lifts a filled container out of the toilet. When the upper part 230 is raised, its center of gravity is arranged in such a way that the seat 231 and the lid 232 remain in their positions. The seat is fastened to the underside of the upper part, e.g. with screws and nuts. The exterior walls of the middle part 210 consist at least partly of two part sandwich walls 249 in order to increase the mechanical stability of the toilet together with the above described wings 227 of the lower part. By using two part sandwich walls instead of thick, solid exterior walls the stability of the toilet is increased and 1Ξ

the toilet is at the same time lighter than a toilet with solid exterior walls and comparable stability.

For the exterior walls of the middle part 210, the lower part 220 and the upper part 230 preferably scratch resistant polypropylene is used as material because this material is scratch resistant, has good impact resistance, is colour-fast (fade resistant), light-proof, accurate shapable and recyclable. The composting container is preferably manufactured of flame resistant polypropylene according to the standard UL V0.1,9 mm because this material is selfextinguishing, UV-proof and has good permeability.

The toilet 200 can be positioned in any room, without any requirements on the room temperature. It must be possible to convey the urine away and to install a ventilation pipe and there must also be access to electricity in order to operate the ventilation fan.

The ventilation outlet can take place through a wall or a ceiling/roof. The toilet comprises a condensation collector, which handles possibly occuring condensation water from the exhaust air channel , whereby the condensation water is conveyed to the sewer pipe. Thus, there is no need to isolate the ventilation pipe neither inside nor outside. The urine drain can lead to the sewer of a handbasin or a shower, to infiltration in a sandbed or to a tank, such as an ejector tank.

The invention has been described in detail with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, the invention can be carried out by means of other embodiments within the scope of the invention. Thus, it is for example possible to change the shape and size of the upper part, but also that certain parts of the toilet are arranged differently, that e.g. the urine separator and the insight protection form a unit which is arranged between the upper part and the middle part and is removed when the upper part has been opened from the middle part for removal of the composting container. It is also possible to design the lower part and the middle part in one piece and to have an openable insert part in the upper part in order to reach the interior of the toilet .

Claims

mPATENTKRAV

1. A dry toilet (200) for separation of urine and solid excrement, wherein the solid excrement is collected in a removable container (221) in the interior of the toilet (200) characterized by an upper part (230) arranged at the toilet (200) for removal between a closed and an open position, wherein the toilet (200) is arranged to be used in the closed position and that the removable composting container (221) can be removed in the open position from the interior of the toilet (200) out through an opening between a middle part (210) and the upper part of the toilet (200) .

2. A dry toilet (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that the removable composting container (221) can be removed from the toilet's (200) interior on sliding surfaces out of the toilet through said opening.

3. A dry toilet (200) according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the toilet (200) comprises a lower part (220) , wherein the upper part, the middle part (210) and the lower part (220) are firmly connected to each other and enclose at least in the closed position the interior of the toilet with the removable composting container.

4. A dry toilet (200) according to any of claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the upper part (230) is pivotable between the open and the closed position.

5. A dry toilet (200) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the upper part comprises a toilet seat (231) and a toilet lid (232) . IS

6. A dry toilet (200) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that that upper part comprises a urine separating device (233, 234) and an insight protection (235) .

7. A dry toilet (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower part (220) comprises a rotating disc (225) for the composting container (221) and in that a ball track is integrated in the lower part and the rotating disc.

8. A dry toilet (200) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the toilet (200) comprises a ventilation fan for drying out the solid excrement in the composting container (221) and for removing the odour from the excrement .

9. A dry toilet (200) according to claim 8, characterized in that the ventilation fan is situated in a ventilation fan housing (223) which comprises a filter and which is attached to the lower part (220) .

10. A dry toilet (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least part of the exterior walls (200) are provided as double sandwich walls (249) .

11. A dry toilet (200) according to claim 10, characterized in that at least part of the exterior walls of the middle part (210) are provided as double sandwich walls (249) .

12. A dry toilet (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that the exterior walls of the toilet are It-

provided in scratch resistent polypropylene composite material .

13. A dry toilet^' (200) according to claim 3, characterized in that the lower part (220) comprises wings (227) which guide the middle part (210) onto the lower part (220) .

14. A dry toilet (200) according to any of claims 1- 13, characterized in that hooks (238) are arranged to keep the upper part (230) in the open position.

15. A dry toilet (200) according to claim 14, characterized in that the hooks (238) are articulately connected with the upper part (230) and in that the hooks

(238) are arranged to slide through elongated openings

(239) in the middle part in order to hatch onto the lower edges of the elongated openings (239) in the open position.

16. A dry toilet (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower part (210, 220) of the toilet are formed in such a way that a cover (222) slides onto the upper side of the composting container (221) when the cover (222) is slid through a gap between the middle part (210) and the slightly opened upper part (230) .

17. A dry toilet (200) according to any of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the toilet (200) comprises a silicon list (248) on the underside of the lower part, which seals against the floor.

18. A dry toilet (200) according to any of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that a sewer pipe for urine is connectable on a arbitrary side of the rear side of the toilet (200) .

19. A dry toilet (200) according to any of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the cover (222) of the removable composting container (221) comprises a downfoldable spacer latch (253) , which is folded down in the composting position and is locked to a position so that the excrement in the container (221) shall get supply air and can be composted.

1/7

FIG. 1A

FIG. 1B

FIG. 1C 2/7

FIG. 2 A

FIG. 2B 3/7

A-A

FIG. 2C

FIG. 2D 4/7

FIG. 3 5/7

FIG. 4 6/7

FIG. 6 7/7

FIG. 7

FIG. 8