Vacuum flush waste disposal system for railcars

• US 5,956,780 A
• Filed: 02/25/1997
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• 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:
  US08/804,910
• Time in Patent Office: 945 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 which is capable of fully retaining an amount of waste matter throughout the entire length of a trip, and which gives accurate readings to monitor the amount of waste matter retained in the waste tank to prevent system overload, said system comprising:

at least one bowl for receiving said waste matter;

a full retention waste holding tank;

a plurality of load sensors located on a bottom exterior of said tank;

a drain line connecting said bowl to said tank; and

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

2. A vacuum-operated flush waste disposal toilet system for railcars which is capable of fully retaining an amount of waste throughout the entire length of a trip, and which gives accurate readings to monitor said amount of waste retained in the waste tank to prevent system overload, said system comprising:

at least one bowl for receiving said waste matter;

a full retention waste holding tank having a plurality of load sensors located on a bottom exterior of said tank;

a drain line connecting said bowl to said tank; and

a flush valve assembly coupled between said drain line and said bowl, and connected to a first vacuum source located in said drain line, 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 first source of vacuum 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 a second source of vacuum to said first and second vacuum ports so that said second vacuum introduced at said first port causes movement of said piston in one direction and said second vacuum introduced at said second port causes movement of said piston in the opposite direction, said piston having a diaphragm which is selectively openable so that when said flush solenoid connects said second vacuum source to said first port, said diaphragm is opened, and when said flush solenoid connects said second source of vacuum 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.

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

a bowl for receiving waste matter;

a waste holding tank containing a first vacuum source;

means for supplying rinse water to said bowl;

waste tubing connecting said bowl to said waste tank; and

a flush valve assembly connected to said tubing, selectively openable to flush said bowl, comprising;

a valve blade movable between closed and open positions, whereby said valve blade in the open position allows said first vacuum source to suck the waste out of said toilet bowl;

a vacuum chamber comprising a cylindrical housing having a top end and a bottom end, said housing further having a top vacuum inlet port located at said top end and a bottom vacuum inlet port located at said bottom end;

a piston movable vertically within said chamber, said piston attached to said blade such that the rise of said piston causes said blade to open and the descent of said piston causes said blade to close; and

a flush solenoid selectively openable to connect a second vacuum source to said top and bottom inlet ports, whereby said solenoid in the open position applies said second vacuum source to said top port and said solenoid in the closed position applies said second vacuum source to said bottom port, whereby vacuum introduced to said top port causes said piston to rise and vacuum introduced to said bottom port causes said piston to descend.

4. A vacuum-operated flush waste disposal toilet system which is capable of fully retaining an amount of waste matter throughout the entire length of a trip, and which gives accurate readings to monitor said amount of waste matter retained in the waste tank to prevent system overload, said system comprising:

at least one bowl for receiving said waste matter;

a full retention waste holding tank having a plurality of load sensors located on a bottom exterior of said tank;

a drain line connecting said bowl to said tank;

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

a flush valve assembly coupled between said drain line and said bowl, and connected to a first vacuum source located in said drain line, 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 first source of vacuum 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;

a flush solenoid which selectively connects a second source of vacuum to said first and second vacuum ports so that said second vacuum introduced at said first port causes movement of said piston in one direction and said second vacuum introduced at said second port causes movement of said piston in the opposite direction; and

a lightweight support base used to cradle said bowl, comprising a front end and a back end, said ends connected by a pair of obtuse triangular legs, the front of said bowl about halfway down from the top of said bowl resting on said front end of said base, and the rear of said bowl being secured to said back end of said base.