WO2014083583A1

WO2014083583A1 - An apparatus for flushing excrement

Info

Publication number: WO2014083583A1
Application number: PCT/IN2013/000726
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rohit Fenn
Original assignee: Rohit Fenn
Priority date: 2012-11-29
Filing date: 2013-11-29
Publication date: 2014-06-05

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for flushing excrement from a lavatory bowl. The apparatus includes an assembly for facilitating displacement of water mixed with the excrement from a lavatory bowl to an outlet or drain pipe. The assembly includes a flush valve seat, a piston rod, and a piston. Together, the assembly may function as single piston enabled to displace the excrement mixed with water. A partial vacuum energy generated by the assembly is combined with fluid power of water, enabling displacement of a mix of the water and the excrement.

Description

AN APPARATUS FOR FLUSHING EXCREMENT

RELATED APPLICATION Benefit is claimed to Indian Provisional Application No. 4967/CHE/2012 titled "AN APPARATUS FOR FLUSHING EXCREMENT" by ROHIT FENN, filed on 29^lh November 2012, which is herein incorporated in its entirety by reference for all purposes. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus used for flushing excrement. More specifically, the present invention provides an apparatus to water-efficiently flush the excrement from a lavatory bowl.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The excrement flushing method in lavatories and systems associated with them are believed to be inefficient. Typically, about six to twelve liters of fresh water is used to flush the excrement out of a lavatory bowl. The present day flushing systems consume such high quantity of fresh water. It is widely perceived that efforts towards reduction of water consumption have further complicated the flushing systems. Further, there may be certain conditions where high amount of water usage is not a practical solution for flushing. One of such conditions can be noticed in lavatories of current commercial and non-commercial aircrafts, where stagnated water is not a viable solution for flushing the excrement. Instead, a prudent solution of combining machine generated vacuum with some water to flush is used. The flushing system in aircraft typically uses a high power motor and associated electromechanical components to generate vacuum to suck the excrement out of the lavatory bowl.

Though the function of flushing is achieved with less water usage, the motor and

l electrical components made them, perhaps, infeasible to be installed in household environment, considering the cost factor indulged.

Furthermore, some of the flushing systems that combine the use of vacuum and water increases the maintenance costs associated with them. This in turn adds to the overhead expenses for individuals who installed such systems. In view of the foregoing, there is a sheer requirement of improvement in this art for the betterment of existing excrement disposal techniques. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of present invention is to provide an apparatus for flushing excrement with reduced use of water. Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a compatible apparatus for flushing excrement by creating a vacuum in the in lavatory bowl using a piston.

According to one embodiment of present invention, an apparatus for flushing excrement includes a lavatory bowl having an upper portion and a lower portion, a cistern for storing water and housing a flush valve seat for regulating closing and opening the cistern to the lavatory bowl to dispense water in the lavatory bowl. Moreover, the apparatus includes a suction zone fitted below the cistern, housing a piston having a piston rod and the piston rod is connected to the flush valve seat such that upward and downward movement of the piston in the suction zone is controlled by the flush valve seat. The lower portion of the lavatory bowl is having first part, second part and third part. The first part and the third part are elevated over second part guiding out flow of the excrement to the outlet pipe. The upward movement of the piston creating suction of the excrement from the first part to the second part of the lower portion and to the suction zone and the downward movement of the piston ejecting the excrements through the third part of the lower portion of the lavatory bowl. According to one embodiment of present invention, the lower portion of the lavatory bowl is filled with water. The lower portion having curved pit and the upper portion forms an opening defined by a rim. The flush valve seat can be moved vertically by a means for controlling vertical motion. Further, the water inflow from the cistern to the lavatory bowl controls the ejection of excrement through the third part of the curved pit, by resisting back-flow of excrement to the first part of the lavatory bowl.

The foregoing has outlined, in general, the various aspects of the invention and is to serve as an aid to better understanding the more complete detailed description which is to follow. In reference to such, there is to be a clear understanding that the present invention is not limited to the method or application of use described and illustrated herein. It is intended that any other advantages and objects of the present invention that become apparent or obvious from the detailed description or illustrations contained herein are within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a sectional schematic view of an exemplary toilet system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic view illustrating a working step of the exemplary toilet system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic view illustrating another working step of the exemplary toilet system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of an assembly of a cistern and a piston of the toilet system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Although specific features of the present invention are shown in some drawings and not in others. This is done for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus for flushing excrement is disclosed. In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary toilet system 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The toilet system 100 resembles, for example, a western type system including a lid 102, a rim 104, a flush valve seat 106, a cistern 108, a piston 110, a lavatory bowl 1 12, an outlet pipe 114, a suction zone 118 and a piston rod 120.

The lid 102 is used to place above the rim 104 to facilitate closure of the toilet system 100. An additional lid is generally provided to facilitate seating of a user above the rim 104. However, it is not shown in the figure.

The lavatory bowl 112 has two portions, such as upper portion 122 and lower portion 124. The rim 104 is placed above the upper portion 122. The lower portion 124 of the lavatory bowl 112 generally contains a minimal amount of water to facilitate receiving and flushing of excrement 116. For example, the bowl 112 is made of ceramic and surface is polished and colored. The lower portion 124 of the lavatory bowl 112 is divided in to three parts such as first part 124A, second part 124B and thirst part 124C. The outlet pipe is connected with the outlet pipe 114.

The cistern 108 is filled with water that is to be used for flushing of the excrement 1 16. The cistern 108 includes the flush valve (a hole), not shown in the figure. The flush valve is opened and closed by upward and downward movement the flush valve seat 106. In an embodiment of the present invention, dimensions of the flush valve seat 106 are decided based on the dimensions of the cistern 108. For instance, the cistern 108 may act as a guide for the flush valve seat 106 when a vertical movement is performed.

The piston 110 is connected to the flush valve seat 106 through the piston rod 120. The piston 1 10 is positioned in the suction zone 1 8. The suction zone 118 is an airtight zone enclosed on all the sides. One of the sides of the suction zone 118 is closed by top surface of the piston 110. For example, the diameter of the piston 110, if the piston 10 is circular, is approximately equal to diameter of the suction zone 118 (if design of the suction zone 118 is diametrical or cylindrical). It shall be noted that the design of the piston 110 is explained to be cylindrical or diametrical; however, other shapes, designs and modifications are possible and as such can be anticipated by the person skilled in the art. In an embodiment, the type of assembly between the piston 10 and walls of the suction zone 118 is at least one of clearance, interference, and transition fit.

In the first stage, the excrement is collected at the first part 124A of the lower portion 124 of the lavatory bowl 112.

Figure 2 is a schematic view illustrating a working step of the exemplary toilet system 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, an upward movement of the piston 110, the piston rod 20, and the flush valve seat 06 is illustrated. The movement of the flush valve set is performed using a means for controlling motion, such as pedal. Owing to the movement of the flush valve seat 106, the movement generally activated by the user of the toilet system 100, the piston 110 is moved up. Since, virtually, there is approximately no gap between the piston 110 and the suction zone 118, and the piston 110 is in contact of the water, the level of water rises in the suction zone 118. In other words, water from the lower portion of the lavatory bowl 112 is sucked into the suction zone 118 because of the vertical movement of the piston 110. It shall be noted that water from either sides of the suction zone 118 get drawn in. The flow of water into the suction zone 118 is denoted by arrow marks Ά & B'. During the flow of water from the bowl 112, excrement 116 is pulled along with water into the suction zone 18 and second part 124B of the lower portion of the lavatory bowl 112.

In accordance with the present embodiment, the piston 110 is moved down the suction zone 118. Because of the downward movement of the piston 110, water in the suction zone 118 is expelled out. The flow of water out of the suction zone 1 18 is denoted by the arrow mark 'C Thereafter, the excrement 1 16 is expelled out of the toilet system 100, as denoted by the arrow mark Ό'. The excrement is ejected through the third portion 124C of the lower portion 124 of the lavatory bowl 112 to the outlet pipe 114.

It shall be noted that there can be various mechanisms adapted for facilitating the movement of the piston 110. One of the ways to achieve is using a pedal to activate a rocker that is coupled to flush valve seat. Further, there are some electromechanical means that can be employed to move the piston 1 0. Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of an assembly of the cistern 108 and the piston 110 of the toilet system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

In accordance with the present embodiment, it is vivid that the design of the flush valve seat 106 is profiled. This is one exemplary design of the flush valve seat 106, however other type of designs are also possible. The flush valve seat 106 is connected at a bottom side to a first end of the piston rod 120. A second end of the piston rod 120 is connected to the piston 110. Together, the flush valve seat 106, the piston rod 120, and the piston 110 move up and down as an assembly to facilitate displacement of the water from the lavatory bowl 112 to the outlet pipe 114. There may be multiple components that can be used for connecting the individual components, various bushes, rings and other machine elements. Those are not explained in the present invention as they are known to people skilled in the art.

Although the embodiments herein are described with various specific embodiments, it will be obvious for a person skilled in the art to practice the - invention with modifications. However, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the claims. It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the embodiments described herein and all the statements of the scope of the embodiments which as a matter of language might be said to fall there between.

Claims

We Claim:

1. An apparatus for flushing excrement comprising:

a toilet bowl having an upper portion and a lower portion;

a cistern for storing water and housing a flush valve seat for regulating closing and opening the cistern to the lavatory bowl to dispense water in the lavatory bowl; characterized in that

a suction zone fitted below the cistern, housing a piston having a piston rod and the piston rod is connected to the flush valve seat such that an upward movement and a downward movement of the piston in the suction zone is controlled by the flush valve seat;

the lower portion of the lavatory bowl comprises a curved pit having a first part, a second part and a third part, wherein the first part and the third part are elevated over the second part for guiding out flow of the excrement; and

the upward movement of the piston creates suction of the excrement from the first part to the second part of the lower portion and to the suction zone and the downward movement of the piston ejects the excrement through the third part of the lower portion of the lavatory bowl.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the lavatory bowl is filled with water.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the lavatory bowl forms an opening defined by a rim for dispensing water to the lavatory bowl.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , comprises a means for controlling the vertical motion of the flush valve seat.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the water inflow from the cistern to the lavatory bowl controls the ejection of excrement through the third part of the curved pit.