Vacuum-assisted toilet systems and methods of using the same
AssigneeBrigham Young University
InventorsKent L. Gee, Scott D. Sommerfeldt, Scott L. Thomson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An example vacuum-assisted toilet includes a toilet bowl including an outlet. The outlet of the toilet bowl is fluidly coupled to a first flush valve, for example, using a first pipe. The first flush valve is fluidly coupled to a second flush valve that is positioned downstream from the first flush valve. For example, the first flush valve may be fluidly coupled to the second flush valve using a second pipe. The second flush valve is fluidly coupled to a vacuum source. The vacuum source may include, for example, a holding tank having a vacuum pressure therein, a vacuum pump, or any other suitable vacuum source.
Claims20
A vacuum-assisted toilet system, comprising:
- a toilet bowl including an outlet;
- a first flush valve fluidly coupled to the outlet of the toilet bowl, the first flush valve configured to controllably switch between a first open state and a first closed state;
- a second flush valve fluidly coupled to the first flush valve at a location downstream from the first flush valve, the second flush valve configured to controllably switch between a second open state and a second closed state;
- and
- a vacuum source fluidly coupled to the second flush valve at a location downstream from the second flush valve;
- wherein:
- the first flush valve is configured to controllably switch from the first closed state to the first open state at a first time;
- the second flush valve is configured to controllably switch from the second closed state to the second open state at a second time that is after the first time;
- and
- the first flush valve is configured to controllably switch from the first open state to the first closed state at a third time that is after the second time.
A method of operating a vacuum-assisted toilet system, the method comprising:
- manipulating a flushing actuator;
- responsive to manipulating the flushing actuator, controllably switching a first flush valve from a first closed state to a first open state at a first time, the first flush valve fluidly coupled to an outlet of a toilet bowl;
- responsive to controllably switching the first flush valve from the first closed state to the first open state, removing at least some waste from the toilet bowl to a location downstream from the first flush valve;
- responsive to manipulating the flushing actuator, controllably switching a second flush valve from a second closed state to a second open state at a second time that is after the first time, the second flush valve coupled to and located downstream from the first flush valve;
- responsive to controllably switching the second flush valve from the second closed state to the second open state, subjecting the waste from the toilet bowl to a vacuum from a vacuum source and removing substantially all of the waste to a location downstream from the second flush valve;
- and
- controllably switching the first flush valve from the first open state to the first closed state at a third time that is after the second time.
A vacuum-assisted toilet system, comprising:
- a toilet bowl including an outlet;
- a first flush valve configured to controllably switch between a first open state and a first closed state;
- a first pipe extending between and fluidly coupling the outlet of the toilet bowl to the first flush valve;
- a second flush valve configured to controllably switch between a second open state and a second closed state;
- a second pipe extending between and fluidly coupling the first flush valve to the second flush valve;
- at least one holding tank configured to receive waste from the toilet bowl;
- and
- a third pipe extending between and fluidly coupling the second flush valve to the at least one holding tank;
- and
- a vacuum source fluidly coupled to the second flush valve at a location downstream from the second flush valve;
- wherein:
- the first flush valve is configured to controllably switch from the first closed state to the first open state at a first time;
- the second flush valve is configured to controllably switch from the second closed state to the second open state at a second time that is after the first time;
- and
- the first flush valve is configured to controllably switch from the first open state to the first closed state at a third time that is after the second time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.