Discharge valve for a vacuum toilet
First Claim
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1. A vacuum toilet comprising:
- a waste receptacle defining an outlet;
a vacuum source in fluid communication with the waste receptacle outlet;
a discharge valve for selectively controlling fluid communication between the vacuum source and the waste receptacle outlet, the discharge valve including, a housing defining an inlet and an outlet;
a rotatable discharge valve member disposed in the housing for selectively establishing fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet, a periphery of the valve member being formed with a series of gear teeth; and
an actuator having a rotatable gear adapted to engage the periphery of the discharge valve member, the actuator being responsive to a control signal, and a flush control unit operably coupled to the actuator for controlling operation of the discharge valve, wherein the flush control unit generates the control signal to operate the actuator, thereby rotating the discharge valve member.
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Abstract
A discharge valve is disclosed for use in a vacuum toilet system having a waste receptacle defining an outlet and a sewer line placeable under partial vacuum. The discharge valve comprises a housing defining an inlet and an outlet, and a rotatable discharge valve member disposed in the housing for selectively establishing fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet. A periphery of the disk valve member being formed with a series of gear teeth. An actuator is provided having a rotatable spur gear adapted to engage the periphery of the discharge valve member.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A vacuum toilet comprising:
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a waste receptacle defining an outlet;
a vacuum source in fluid communication with the waste receptacle outlet;
a discharge valve for selectively controlling fluid communication between the vacuum source and the waste receptacle outlet, the discharge valve including, a housing defining an inlet and an outlet;
a rotatable discharge valve member disposed in the housing for selectively establishing fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet, a periphery of the valve member being formed with a series of gear teeth; and
an actuator having a rotatable gear adapted to engage the periphery of the discharge valve member, the actuator being responsive to a control signal, and a flush control unit operably coupled to the actuator for controlling operation of the discharge valve, wherein the flush control unit generates the control signal to operate the actuator, thereby rotating the discharge valve member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A discharge valve for use in a vacuum toilet system, the discharge valve comprising:
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a housing defining a discharge valve inlet and a discharge valve outlet;
a valve member disposed inside the housing, the valve member being movable between a closed position in which the valve member obstructs fluid communication between the discharge valve inlet and the discharge valve outlet, and an open position in which fluid communication is established between the discharge valve inlet and the discharge valve outlet; and
a sensor for directly and continuously detecting at least a portion of the valve member to determine a position of the valve member, the sensor being located outside of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification