Vortex waste separator apparatus

A multiple vortex separator for removing solid and liquid waste from a waste stream from aircraft toilets or other receptacles while withdrawing a substantially moisture-free airstream under suction comprising:

• a housing having an outer wall with an inner surface, a waste inlet for receiving the waste stream, and an enclosed top with an exhaust port for withdrawing the substantially moisture-free airstream from the housing;
• an annular channel along the inner surface of the wall defining a first vortex flow path for separating liquid and solid waste from the waste stream, the annular channel being in communication with the inlet;
• a filter unit containing inner and outer nested cones within the housing defining an inverted conical cavity between the cones, the conical cavity being in communication with the exhaust port and forming a second vortex flow path isolated from the first vortex flow path for separating additional liquid and solid waste from the waste stream before it enters the exhaust port;
• an exhaust cap atop the housing and an exhaust port located in the cap;
• and
• a source of suction connected to the exhaust port for withdrawing the substantially moisture-free airstream from the housing and a waste stream containing liquid and solid waste connected to the inlet.

A multiple vortex separator for removing solid and liquid waste from a waste stream from aircraft toilets or other receptacles while withdrawing a substantially moisture-free airstream under suction comprising:

• a housing having an outer wall with an inner surface, a waste inlet for receiving the waste stream, and an enclosed top with an exhaust port for withdrawing the substantially moisture-free airstream from the housing;
• an annular channel along the inner surface of the wall defining a first vortex flow path for separating liquid and solid waste from the waste stream, the annular channel being in communication with the inlet;
• inner and outer nested cones within the housing defining an inverted conical cavity between the cones, the conical cavity being in communication with the exhaust port and forming a second vortex flow path isolated from the first vortex flow path for separating additional liquid and solid waste from the waste stream before it enters the exhaust port;
• an exhaust cap atop the housing and an exhaust port located in the cap;
• and
• a source of suction connected to the exhaust port for withdrawing the substantially moisture-free airstream from the housing and a waste stream containing liquid and solid waste connected to the inlet,
• wherein the vortex separator is mounted to a waste tank having a drain for removing waste collected in the tank and no other separator is associated with the tank for removing the solid and liquid waste from the waste stream while withdrawing a substantially moisture-free airstream under suction.

A method of drawing a substantially moisture-free airstream from a waste stream containing liquid and solid waste comprising:

• drawing the waste stream containing liquid and solid waste into an annular channel defining a first vortex flow path in a cylindrical housing so that heavier solids and liquids move to the outside of the housing and fall downwardly while a lighter airstream containing remaining moisture particles migrate to the center of the housing;
• drawing the remaining lighter airstream into an inverted conical cavity in a second vortex flow path isolated from the first vortex flow path to produce a centrifugal force causing remaining heavier materials to fall through the conical cavity and the remaining lighter airstream to be drawn from the conical cavity;
• and
• drawing the remaining lighter airstream from the conical cavity through at least one port into a conical chamber where the remaining lighter airstream passes up through filter material which coalesces remaining entrained liquid in the remaining lighter airstream which accumulates and falls to the bottom of the conical chamber.

A multiple vortex separator for removing solid and liquid waste from a waste stream while withdrawing a substantially moisture-free airstream under suction comprising:

• a housing having an outer wall with an inner surface, a waste inlet for receiving the waste stream, and an enclosed top with an exhaust port for withdrawing the substantially moisture-free airstream from the housing;
• an annular channel along the inner surface of the wall defining a first vortex flow path for separating liquid and solid waste from the waste stream, the annular channel being in communication with the inlet;
• a filter unit containing inner and outer nested cones within the housing defining an inverted conical cavity between the cones, the conical cavity being in communication with the exhaust port and forming a second vortex flow path isolated from the first vortex flow path for separating additional liquid and solid waste from the waste stream before it is withdrawn from the exhaust port;
• an exhaust cap atop the housing and an exhaust port located in the cap;
• a source of suction connected to the exhaust port for withdrawing the substantially moisture-free airstream from the housing and a waste stream containing liquid and solid waste connected to the inlet;
• and
• a helix isolator having helical vanes extending away from a hollow central member attached to the outer cone of the filter unit to the inner surface of the housing.