Vacuum toilet bowl assembly having a removable bowl

• US 6,347,416 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2000
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MAG Aerospace Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Evac International Oy
• Inventors: Tinkler, Ian, Pondelick, Mark A., Wallace, Douglas M., Anderson, William Bruce, McGowan, Arthur J. Jr., Hancock, Michael B., Stradinger, Jay D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN N
• Application Number:
  US09/713,861
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 430/0, 431/6, 442/0, 443/1-4-5, 137/588, 137/595
• US Class Current: 4/431
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 11/02 Water-closet bowls auxiliary chambers with connections to flushing water for bowl-cleaning utensils E03D9/06; modified for using upwardly-directed sprays E03D9/08; seats or covers A47K13/00 ; Bowls with a double odour seal optionally with provisions for a good siphonic action; siphons as part of the bowl parts or details of bowls E03D11/13
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 1/006 Pneumatic sewage disposal systems; accessories specially adapted therefore

Abstract

A vacuum bowl assembly for use in a vacuum toilet positioned on a support surface and having a discharge valve. The vacuum bowl assembly comprises a frame having a bottom member adapted to engage the support surface, and a top member defining a shoulder. A removable bowl is provided having a flange extending about an upper edge sized to engage the shoulder, and an outlet adapted for fluid communication with the discharge valve.

Claims

1. A vacuum bowl assembly for use in a vacuum toilet positioned on a support surface and having a discharge valve with an inlet, the assembly comprising:

a frame having a bottom member adapted to engage the support surface, and a top member defining an opening, a pair of slot openings being formed in the top member; and

a removable bowl having a sidewall sized for insertion into the opening and a flange resting on the top member and carrying a pair of tabs sized to lockingly insert into the slot openings so as to secure the bowl to the frame, the bowl defining an outlet adapted for fluid communication with the discharge valve inlet.

2. The vacuum bowl assembly of claim 1, in which the frame further comprises a bracket adapted to support the discharge valve.

3. The vacuum bowl assembly of claim 1, in which the tabs are manually releasable to disengage from the slots.

4. The vacuum bowl assembly of claim 1, in which the vacuum toilet further comprises a rinse valve, a rinse fluid dispenser is associated with the bowl, and a rinse fluid pipe communicates between the rinse valve and the rinse fluid dispenser, wherein the rinse fluid pipe is releasably attached to the rinse valve with a coupling.

5. The vacuum bowl assembly of claim 4, in which the coupling is manually releasable.

6. The vacuum bowl assembly of claim 1, in which the vacuum toilet further comprises a transfer pipe having a first end connected to the discharge valve inlet and a second end adapted to releasably engage the bowl outlet.

7. The vacuum toilet system of claim 6, in which the second end of the transfer pipe includes a collar sized to releasably engage and seal with the bowl outlet.

8. A vacuum bowl assembly for use in a vacuum toilet positioned on a support surface and having a discharge valve with an inlet, the assembly comprising:

a frame having a bottom member adapted to engage the support surface, and a top member defining an opening, a pair of slot openings being formed in the top member; and

a removable plastic bowl having a sidewall sized for insertion into the opening and a flange resting on the top member and carrying a pair of tabs sized to lockingly insert into the slot openings so as to secure the bowl to the frame, the bowl defining an outlet adapted for fluid communication with the discharge valve inlet.

9. The vacuum bowl assembly of claim 8, in which the tabs are manually releasable to disengage from the slots.

10. The vacuum bowl assembly of claim 8, in which the vacuum toilet further comprises a rinse valve, a rinse fluid dispenser is associated with the bowl, and a rinse fluid pipe communicates between the rinse valve and the rinse fluid dispenser, wherein the rinse fluid pipe is releasably attached to the rinse valve with a coupling.

11. The vacuum bowl assembly of claim 10, in which the coupling is manually releasable.

12. The vacuum bowl assembly of claim 10, in which the vacuum toilet further comprises a transfer pipe having a first end connected to the discharge valve inlet and a second end adapted to releasably engage the bowl outlet.

13. The vacuum toilet system of claim 12, in which the second end of the transfer pipe includes a collar sized to releasably engage and seal with the bowl outlet.