Vacuum flush waste disposal system for railcars

A vacuum-operated flush waste disposal toilet system for railcars which is capable of fully retaining an amount of waste throughout the entire length of a trip, and which gives accurate readings to monitor said amount of waste retained in the waste tank to prevent system overload, said system comprising:

• at least one bowl for receiving said waste matter;
• a full retention waste holding tank having a plurality of load sensors located on a bottom exterior of said tank;
• a drain line connecting said bowl to said tank;
• and
• a flush valve assembly coupled between said drain line and said bowl, and connected to a first vacuum source located in said drain line, said flush valve assembly being selectively openable to flush said bowl, said valve assembly including:
• a valve blade movable between closed and open positions, said valve blade in the open position connecting said first source of vacuum to said bowl to suck the waste out of said bowl;
• a vacuum chamber having first and second vacuum inlet ports substantially at opposite ends of said chamber;
• a piston vertically movable within said chamber, said piston attached to said valve blade so that the movement of said piston in one direction opens said blade and the movement of said piston in the opposite direction closes said blade;
• and
• a flush solenoid which selectively connects a second source of vacuum to said first and second vacuum ports so that said second vacuum introduced at said first port causes movement of said piston in one direction and said second vacuum introduced at said second port causes movement of said piston in the opposite direction, said piston having a diaphragm which is selectively openable so that when said flush solenoid connects said second vacuum source to said first port, said diaphragm is opened, and when said flush solenoid connects said second source of vacuum to said second port, said diaphragm is closed, said diaphragm in the open position causing movement of said piston in one direction and said diaphragm in the closed position causing movement of said piston in the opposite direction.

A vacuum-operated flush waste disposal toilet system for railcars, comprising:

• a bowl for receiving waste matter;
• a waste holding tank containing a first vacuum source;
• means for supplying rinse water to said bowl;
• waste tubing connecting said bowl to said waste tank;
• and
• a flush valve assembly connected to said tubing, selectively openable to flush said bowl, comprising:
• a valve blade movable between closed and open positions, whereby said valve blade in the open position allows said first vacuum source to suck the waste out of said toilet bowl;
• a vacuum chamber comprising a cylindrical housing having a top end and a bottom end, said housing further having a top vacuum inlet port located at said top end and a bottom vacuum inlet port located at said bottom end;
• a piston movable vertically within said chamber, said piston attached to said blade such that the rise of said piston causes said blade to open and the descent of said piston causes said blade to close;
• and
• a flush solenoid selectively openable to connect a second vacuum source to said top and bottom inlet ports, whereby said solenoid in the open position applies said second vacuum source to said top port and said solenoid in the closed position applies said second vacuum source to said bottom port, whereby vacuum introduced to said top port causes said piston to rise and vacuum introduced to said bottom port causes said piston to descend.

A vacuum-operated flush waste disposal toilet system which is capable of fully retaining an amount of waste matter throughout the entire length of a trip, and which gives accurate readings to monitor said amount of waste matter retained in the waste tank to prevent system overload, said system comprising:

• at least one bowl for receiving said waste matter;
• a full retention waste holding tank having a plurality of load sensors located on a bottom exterior of said tank;
• a drain line connecting said bowl to said tank;
• a disposable spray ring for supplying fresh rinse water to said bowl, said spray ring having a disposable hollow tube selectively coupled to a source of water and having a plurality of openings for dispensing water onto the interior surface of said bowl;
• a flush valve assembly coupled between said drain line and said bowl, and connected to a first vacuum source located in said drain line, said flush valve assembly being selectively openable to flush said bowl, said valve assembly including:
• a valve blade movable between closed and open positions, said valve blade in the open position connecting said first source of vacuum to said bowl to suck the waste out of said bowl;
• a vacuum chamber having first and second vacuum inlet ports substantially at opposite ends of said chamber;
• a piston vertically movable within said chamber, said piston attached to said valve blade so that the movement of said piston in one direction opens said blade and the movement of said piston in the opposite direction closes said blade;
• a flush solenoid which selectively connects a second source of vacuum to said first and second vacuum ports so that said second vacuum introduced at said first port causes movement of said piston in one direction and said second vacuum introduced at said second port causes movement of said piston in the opposite direction;
• and
• a lightweight support base used to cradle said bowl, comprising a front end and a back end, said ends connected by a pair of obtuse triangular legs, the front of said bowl about halfway down from the top of said bowl resting on said front end of said base, and the rear of said bowl being secured to said back end of said base.