Vacuum flush waste disposal system for railcars

• US 5,604,938 A
• Filed: 07/19/1994
• Issued: 02/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Norcan Aircraft Corporation
• Original Assignee: Norcan Aircraft Corporation
• Inventors: Tyler, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fetsuga, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US08/276,952
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 4/300, 4/316, 4/321, 4/323, 4/420, 4/431, 4/432, 4/433, 4/434, 4/435, 137/907, 251/30.01, 251/63, 73/296
• US Class Current: 4/321
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 35/007 comprising toilet waste receiving, treatment, storage, disposal or removal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 29/16 Soil water discharges arrangements of installations for treating waste water or sewage B63J4/006
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/02 Toilet fittings of general application A47K
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/00 Special constructions of flushing devices in motor vehicles or trailers B60R15/00; in railway carriages B61D35/00; in ships B63B29/14; in aircraft B64D11/02, e.g. closed flushing system
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 1/006 Pneumatic sewage disposal systems; accessories specially adapted therefore
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

A vacuum-operated waste disposal toilet system suitable for use on commercial passenger vehicles, in particular railcars, including at least one bowl for receiving waste material and a full-retention waste-holding tank connected to the bowl by a drain line. A vacuum blower connected to the waste tank for creating a vacuum in the drain line. A flush valve assembly is provided in the drain line, and is selectively openable to connect the vacuum in the drain line to the bowl for sucking the waste out of the bowl. A disposable spray ring containing a plurality of holes, selectively coupled to a water source, is wedged between the bowl and a separate lip member for dispensing water onto the interior surface of the bowl. The flush valve assembly includes a vacuum chamber with top and bottom vacuum inlet ports, a piston connected to a valve blade movable vertically within the chamber and a flush solenoid openable to selectively connect a second vacuum to the top and bottom inlet ports. The flush solenoid in the open position opens the valve blade, which in turn opens the flush valve assembly. The assembly is supported by a novel light weight composite base having a triangulated shape. The waste-holding tank contains a plurality compression load cells on the bottom exterior surface of the tank to accurately determine the capacity level of the tank.

Claims

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

a full retention composite waste holding tank;

a bowl which receives waste matter, said bowl having a top rim and an interior surface;

vacuum operated means to transfer the waste matter received in said bowl, to said tank;

a plurality of compression load cells located on a bottom exterior of said tank, said cells not coming into contact with the waste so as to give more accurate readings of the level of waste contained in said tank;

a disposable spray ring for supplying 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 the water directly from said ring onto said interior surface of said bowl;

means to maintain a constant vacuum within said waste tank to provide for a rapid flush cycle;

means for averaging and comparing a value received from said cells to calculate the waste level of said tank; and

a lightweight support base used to cradle said bowl, said support base comprising a front end and a back end, said ends connected by a pair of triangular, slanted, composite legs, to a front portion of said bowl about halfway down from said top rim of said bowl resting on said front end of said base, and a rear portion of said bowl being secured to said back end of said base so that said base compensates for the center of gravity of said bowl.

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

a full retention composite waste holding tank;

a bowl which receives waste matter, said bowl having a top rim and an interior surface;

vacuum operated means to transfer the waste matter received in said bowl, to said tank;

a plurality of compression load cells located on a bottom exterior of said tank, said cells not coming into contact with the waste so as to give more accurate readings of the level of waste contained in said tank;

a disposable spray ring for supplying 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 the water directly from said ring onto said interior surface of said bowl;

means to maintain a constant vacuum within said waste tank to provide for a rapid flush cycle, said means connected to a vacuum source; and

means for averaging and comparing a value received from said cells to calculate the waste level of said tank;

said vacuum operated means further comprising;

a drain line connecting said bowl to said tank;

a flush valve assembly coupled between said drain line and said bowl, and connected to said vacuum source, 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 drain line 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 said vacuum source to said first and second vacuum ports so that said vacuum source introduced at said first port causes movement of said piston in one direction and said vacuum source introduced at said second port causes movement of said piston in the opposite direction.

3. The toilet system of claim 2, wherein said piston has a diaphragm which is selectively openable so that when said flush solenoid connects said vacuum source to said first port, said diaphragm is opened, and when said flush solenoid connects said vacuum source 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.