Method and apparatus for controlling a waste outlet of a toilet

• US 10,202,747 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2016
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Hoang, Thao, Buniak, Bradley J., Kurshinsky, Christian C., Niznik, Stephen M., Pedersen, William, Pondelick, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skubinna, Christine
• Application Number:
  US15/084,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20160289942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 42521, 4434
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/02 Toilet fittings of general application A47K
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 11/13 Parts or details of bowls; Special adaptations of pipe joints or couplings for use with bowls , e.g. provisions in bowl construction preventing backflow of waste-water from the bowl in the flushing pipe or cistern, provisions for a secondary flushing, for noise-reducing
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 11/135 Supports for bowls
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 11/16 Means for connecting the bowl to the floor, e.g. to a floor outlet
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/012 combined with movable closure elements in the bowl outlet bowls with closure elements between bottom or outlet and outlet pipe E03D11/10
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/02 operated mechanically or hydraulically E03D5/01, E03D5/12 take precedence(or pneumatically) also details such as push buttons, levers and pull-card therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/10 operated electrically E03D5/01, E03D5/12 take precedence, e.g. by a photo-cell; also combined with devices for opening or closing shutters in the bowl outlet and/or with devices for raising/or lowering seat and cover and/or for swiveling the bowl
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 9/00 Sanitary or other accessories for lavatories hand tools for cleaning the toilet bowl A47K11/10; seats or covers for closets A47K13/00; body supports, other than seats for closets A47K17/02; devices for preventing contamination of drinking-water pipes E03C1/10 ; Devices for cleaning or disinfecting the toilet room or the toilet bowl; Devices for eliminating smells cleaning, disinfecting or deodorising the seat A47K13/30
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 1/006 Pneumatic sewage disposal systems; accessories specially adapted therefore
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/04 with pivoted closure members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/047 characterised by mechanical means between the motor and the valve, e.g. lost motion means reducing backlash, clutches, brakes or return means F16K31/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/465 by flexible transmission means, e.g. cable, chain, bowden wire

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling the waste outlet of a toilet includes, according to an implementation, a motor comprising a Hall effect sensor that detects the rotation of the motor and generates a position signal in response thereto; a mechanical actuator coupled to the motor; a door coupled to the mechanical actuator, wherein the door is disposed at the waste outlet of the toilet; logic circuitry that receives the position signal, generates a control signal to move the door based at least in part on the position signal, and transmits the control signal to the motor. The motor operates according to the control signal to drive the mechanical actuator to move the door.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a waste outlet of a toilet, the apparatus comprising:

a motor comprising a rotor including at least one magnet, a Hall effect sensor that detects movement of the at least one magnet of the rotor and outputs a sensor signal in response to detecting the movement of the at least one magnet, and a first logic circuitry configured to generate a position signal in response to the sensor signal;

a mechanical actuator coupled to the motor;

a door coupled to the mechanical actuator, wherein the door is disposed at the waste outlet of the toilet; and

a second logic circuitry configured to;

receive the position signal from the first logic circuitry;

based at least in part on the position signal, generate a control signal to move the door; and

transmit the control signal to the motor,

wherein the motor operates according to the control signal to drive the mechanical actuator to move the door.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

in a start-up operation, the control signal includes a command to bring the motor to a zero position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the zero position of the motor corresponds to the door being in a fully closed position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the mechanical actuator is a first mechanical actuator,

the apparatus further comprises a second mechanical actuator attached to the door, and

the first and second mechanical actuators are coupled to one another.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mechanical actuator is attached to a shaft of the motor at a pivot point and pivots about the pivot point according to rotation of the shaft.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a frame and a housing attached to the frame, wherein the housing has a slot that contains the door when the door is in an open position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a frame and bowl attached to the frame, wherein the waste outlet is located in a lower portion of the bowl.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a waste pipe attached to the bowl at the waste outlet.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the second logic circuitry receives an activation signal, the second logic circuitry transmits the control signal to the motor to cause the motor to drive the mechanical actuator to close the door.