Modular vacuum toilet with line replaceable units

• US 6,536,055 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• 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): Walczak, David J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN N
• Application Number:
  US10/061,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20020069459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 430/0, 431/6, 442/0, 443/1-4-5, 445/8, 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86332 Vent and inlet or outlet in unitary mounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87161 With common valve operator

Abstract

A modular vacuum toilet, and a method of servicing such a toilet, are disclosed. The toilet is used with a vacuum toilet system having a sewer line placeable under partial vacuum pressure and a source of rinse fluid. The modular vacuum toilet comprises a frame and a removable bowl engaging and supported be the frame, the bowl defining an outlet and having a rinse fluid dispenser associated therewith. The modular vacuum toilet also has a valve set module. The valve set module includes a discharge valve having an inlet in fluid communication with the bowl outlet, an outlet in fluid communication with the sewer line, and a movable discharge valve member disposed between the discharge valve inlet and outlet. A rinse fluid valve is also incorporated into the valve set module and has an inlet in fluid communication with the source of rinse fluid, an outlet in fluid communication with the rinse fluid dispenser, and a movable rinse fluid valve member disposed between the rinse fluid valve inlet and outlet. The valve set module further includes a flush control unit having a circuit board operably connected to the discharge valve and rinse fluid valve for controlling actuation of the discharge valve member and rinse fluid valve member.

Claims

1. A modular vacuum toilet for use in a vacuum toilet system having a sewer line placeable under partial vacuum pressure and a source of rinse fluid, the modular vacuum toilet comprising:

a support structure;

a removable bowl supported by the support structure, the bowl defining an outlet and having a rinse fluid dispenser associated therewith, the bowl defining a first line replaceable unit;

a valve set module defining a second line replaceable unit, the valve set module including;

a discharge valve having an inlet in fluid communication with the bowl outlet, an outlet in fluid communication with the sewer line, and a movable discharge valve member disposed between the discharge valve inlet and outlet;

a rinse fluid valve having an inlet in fluid communication with the source of rinse fluid, an outlet in fluid communication with the rinse fluid dispenser, and a movable rinse fluid valve member disposed between the rinse fluid valve inlet and outlet; and

a flush control unit having a circuit board operably connected to the discharge valve and rinse fluid valve for controlling actuation of the discharge valve member and rinse fluid valve member;

wherein the first line replaceable unit is independently replaceable from the toilet and the second line replaceable unit; and

wherein the second line replaceable unit is independently replaceable from the toilet and the first line replaceable unit.

2. The modular vacuum toilet of claim 1, in which the support structure comprises a frame.

3. The modular vacuum toilet of claim 2, in which the frame defines an opening, and in which the bowl includes a sidewall sized for insertion into the opening.

4. The modular vacuum toilet of claim 1, in which the support structure includes slots, and in which the bowl includes tabs adapted to lockingly engage the slots, thereby to secure the bowl in place.

5. The modular vacuum toilet of claim 4, in which the tabs are manually releasable to disengage from the slots.

6. The modular vacuum toilet of claim 1, in which a rinse fluid pipe communicates between the rinse fluid valve outlet and the rinse fluid dispenser, wherein the rinse fluid pipe is releasably attached to the rinse fluid valve outlet with a coupling.

7. The modular vacuum toilet of claim 6, in which the coupling is manually releasable.

8. The modular vacuum toilet of claim 1, in which a transfer pipe has a first end connected to the discharge valve inlet, and a second end adapted to releasably engage the bowl outlet.

9. The modular vacuum toilet of claim 8, in which the second end of the transfer pipe includes a collar sized to releasably engage and seal with the bowl outlet.

10. The modular vacuum toilet of claim 1, in which a rinse fluid line communicates between the rinse fluid valve inlet and the source of rinse fluid, wherein the rinse fluid valve inlet is releasably connected to the rinse fluid line with a coupling.

11. The modular vacuum toilet of claim 10, in which the coupling is manually releasable.

12. The modular vacuum toilet of claim 1, in which a discharge pipe communicates between the discharge valve outlet and the sewer line, wherein the discharge pipe is adapted for releasable connection to the sewer line.

13. The modular vacuum toilet of claim 1, in which the support structure includes a bracket, and in which fasteners are provided for releasably securing the valve set module to the bracket.

14. The modular vacuum toilet of claim 13, in which the fasteners comprise knurled screws.

15. A method of servicing a modular vacuum toilet in which the toilet has a first line replaceable unit including a waste receptacle for receiving waste and being supported by a support structure, the waste receptacle defining an outlet and having a rinse fluid dispenser associated therewith;

the toilet further including a discharge valve having an inlet in fluid communication with the receptacle outlet, an outlet in fluid communication with a sewer line placeable under partial vacuum pressure, and a moveable discharge valve member disposed between the discharge valve inlet and the discharge valve outlet;

a rinse fluid valve having an inlet in fluid communication with a source of rinse fluid, an outlet in fluid communication with the rinse fluid dispenser, and a moveable rinse fluid valve member disposed between the rinse fluid valve inlet and the rinse fluid valve outlet; and

a flush control unit adapted to control actuation of the discharge valve member and rinse fluid valve member;

in which at least two of the discharge valve, rinse fluid valve, and flush control unit are provided as a valve set forming a second line replaceable unit, the method comprising;

replacing the first line replaceable unit with a new first line replaceable unit independently of the toilet and the second line replaceable unit or the second line replaceable unit with a new second line replaceable unit independently of the toilet and the first line replaceable unit.

16. The method of claim 15, in which the vacuum toilet comprises a stationary support structure, and in which the waste receptacle is adapted to releasably engage the support structure.

17. The method of claim 16, in which the support structure includes slots, and in which the waste receptacle includes tabs adapted to lockingly engage the slots, thereby to secure the waste receptacle in place.

18. The method of claim 17, in which the tabs are manually releasable to disengage from the slots.

19. The method of claim 15, in which the discharge valve, rinse fluid valve, and flush control unit are integrally provided in a valve set, and in which the valve set forms the second line replaceable unit.

20. The method of claim 15, in which a rinse fluid pipe communicates between the rinse fluid valve outlet and the rinse fluid dispenser, wherein the rinse fluid pipe is releasably attached to the rinse fluid dispenser with a coupling.

21. The method of claim 20, in which the coupling is manually releasable.

22. The method of claim 15, in which a transfer pipe has a first end connected to the discharge valve inlet, and a second end adapted to releasably engage the waste receptacle outlet.

23. The method of claim 22, in which the second end of the transfer pipe includes a collar sized to releasably engage and seal with the waste receptacle outlet.

24. The method of claim 15, in which a rinse fluid line communicates between the rinse fluid valve inlet and the source of rinse fluid, wherein the rinse fluid valve inlet is releasably connected to the rinse fluid line with a coupling.

25. The method of claim 24, in which the coupling is manually releasable.

26. The method of claim 15, in which a discharge pipe communicates between the discharge valve outlet and the sewer line, wherein the discharge pipe is adapted for releasable connection to the sewer line.

27. The method of claim 15, in which the vacuum toilet includes a support structure having a bracket, and in which fasteners are provided for releasably securing the valve set to the bracket.

28. The method of claim 27, in which the fasteners comprise knurled screws.