Method and apparatus for controlling a waste outlet of a toilet

• US 10,640,962 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2019
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Hoang, Thao, Buniak, Bradley J., Kurshinsky, Christian C., Niznik, Stephen M., Pedersen, William, Pondelick, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skubinna, Christine J
• Application Number:
  US16/272,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20190277014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 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. A method for controlling a waste outlet of a toilet, the toilet comprising a motor, a mechanical actuator coupled to the motor, and a door coupled to the mechanical actuator, the method comprising:

transmitting a control signal to a first logic circuitry of the motor to move the motor to a zero position;

detecting, by a Hall effect sensor of the motor, rotation of the motor;

generating, by the first logic circuitry of the motor, a position signal in response to the detected rotation;

receiving, by a second logic circuitry, the position signal from the motor;

determining, by the second logic circuitry based at least in part on the position signal, how much the motor needs to be opened in order to move the door to an appropriate position within the waste outlet; and

transmitting, by the second logic circuitry, a control signal to the motor to cause the motor to actuate the mechanical actuator to move the door to the appropriate position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the appropriate position is a fully open position, the method further comprising:

receiving an activation signal from a flush mechanism of the toilet; and

transmitting the control signal in response to the activation signal.

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

a lever;

a mechanical actuator coupled to the lever;

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

a lanyard that is coupled to the lever, wherein the lanyard is manually accessible,

wherein when the lanyard is pulled, the lever moves so as to move the mechanical actuator to move the door.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a frame to which the mechanical actuator is attached, wherein an end of the lanyard is attached to the frame.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the mechanical actuator closes the door.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the mechanical actuator is a first mechanical actuator, the apparatus comprising a second mechanical actuator that is attached to the door, wherein the first and second mechanical actuators cooperate to transmit motion from the lever to the door.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a bushing attached to the lever, wherein the bushing has a hole through which the lanyard passes.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a motor, wherein the lever is coupled to the motor such that when the motor imparts torque on the lever, the lever moves and the bushing slides over the lanyard.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a stopper attached to an end of the lanyard, wherein the stopper does not fit through the hole, such that when the lanyard is pulled, the lanyard slides through the hole of the bushing until the stopper catches on the bushing at the hole.

10. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the lanyard includes a cable made of twisted metal strands.

11. The apparatus of claim 3, comprising a cover that encloses a portion of the lanyard.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the cover is made of rubber or plastic.

13. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the mechanical actuator is a first mechanical actuator, the apparatus comprising a second mechanical actuator that is attached to the door and coupled with the first mechanical actuator, and the lanyard is attached to an end of the first mechanical actuator opposite the second mechanical actuator.

14. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the lanyard includes a first end attached to the lever and a second end accessible from a front of a frame of the apparatus.