Toilet and method of operation

• US 6,883,188 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2001
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dometic LLC
• Original Assignee: Sealand Technology, Inc. (Dometic Group AB)
• Inventors: Krieder, Robert D., Miko, Steven L., Thomas, Randall, Sigler, James A., Snyder, Nathan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Huyen
• Application Number:
  US10/258,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20030121092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 443/4, 443/5, 443/8, 444/1
• US Class Current: 4/434
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 35/005 Toilet facilities
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 29/14 Closet or like flushing arrangements; Washing or bathing facilities peculiar to ships
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 1/32 Arrangement of inlet valves devices for reducing noise E03D9/14 ; noise-reducing means E03D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 3/00 Flushing devices operated by pressure of the water supply system flushing valves not connected to the water-supply main, also if air is blown in the water seal for a quick flushing
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/012 combined with movable closure elements in the bowl outlet bowls with closure elements between bottom or outlet and outlet pipe E03D11/10
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/10 operated electrically E03D5/01, E03D5/12 take precedence, e.g. by a photo-cell; also combined with devices for opening or closing shutters in the bowl outlet and/or with devices for raising/or lowering seat and cover and/or for swiveling the bowl

Abstract

A toilet (10) and toilet system suitable for a boat, recreational vehicle, bus or the like is operated via a microprocessor controller to effect a convenient and efficient operation. The toilet includes a base assembly (30) having an electrically-operated flush valve that opens and closes a passage to a waste receiving area. A flush lever assembly (15) has flush lever displaceable from a neutral position toward one of a “flush” position and an “add water” position. In this context, the flush lever initiates a flush cycle in the “flush” position and initiates an add water cycle in the “add water” position. The controller communicates with a water inlet valve, the flush valve and the flush lever assembly. In operation, the controller opens and closes the water inlet valve and controls a position of the flush valve in accordance with a position of the flush lever.

Claims

1. A toilet suitable for a boat, recreational vehicle, bus or the like, the toilet comprising:

a base assembly including an electrically-operated flush valve that opens and closes a passage to a waste receiving area;

a flush lever assembly including a flush lever displaceable from a neutral position toward one of a “

flush”

position and an “

add water”

position, the flush lever initiating a flush cycle in the “

flush”

position and initiating an add water cycle in the “

add water”

position; and

a controller communicating with a water inlet valve, the flush valve and the flush lever assembly, the controller opening and closing the water inlet valve and controlling a position of the flush valve in accordance with a position of the flush lever.

2. A toilet according to claim 1, wherein the flush valve comprises a ball valve.

3. A toilet according to claim 1, wherein the flush valve is displaceable between a sealed position and a full open position, and wherein the controller controls the position of the flush valve through a programmed cycle from the sealed position to the full open position and back to the sealed position in accordance with a signal from the flush lever.

4. A toilet according to claim 3, wherein the flush valve comprises an open limit switch that detects when the flush valve is in the full open position and a closed limit switch that detects when the flush valve is in the sealed position.

5. A toilet according to claim 4, wherein the flush valve is mounted on a valve shaft, and wherein the flush valve further comprises a first cam lobe that engages the open limit switch when the flush valve is in the full open position and a second cam lobe that engages the closed limit switch when the flush valve is in the sealed position.

6. A toilet according to claim 5, wherein the flush valve further comprises:

a valve motor controlled by the controller and having a motor output shaft;

a follower lever coupled with the valve shaft; and

a cam lever engaging the follower lever at one end and the motor output shaft at an opposite end.

7. A toilet according to claim 3, wherein the programmed cycle carried out by the controller opens the flush valve for a predetermined period of time during the flush cycle.

8. A toilet according to claim 7, wherein the programmed cycle carried out by the controller stages opening of the flush valve.

9. A toilet according to claim 7, wherein the programmed cycle carried out by the controller begins opening the flush valve for a first predetermined period of time, then stops opening the flush valve for a second predetermined period of time, then continues opening until the flush valve reaches the full open position.

10. A toilet according to claim 9, wherein the first predetermined period of time is 0.1 seconds and the second predetermined period of time is 0.2 seconds.

11. A toilet according to claim 1, wherein the flush lever assembly comprises an add water/flush switch coupled with the flush lever, the flush lever closing flush contacts of the add water/flush switch in the “

flush”

position and closing add water contacts of the add water/flush switch in the “

add water”

position.

12. A toilet according to claim 1, wherein the flush lever assembly comprises a water level switch communicating with the controller, the water level switch enabling operator selection of a water level in the toilet.

13. A toilet according to claim 12, wherein the water level switch comprises a low position, a normal position, and a high position.

14. A toilet according to claim 13, wherein the controller opens the water inlet valve during the flush cycle for a time that is based on the position of the water level switch.

15. A toilet according to claim 13, wherein the controller limits a time of the add water cycle based on a position of the water level switch.

16. A toilet according to claim 1, wherein the flush lever assembly comprises a mode switch communicating with the controller, the mode switch enabling operator selection between a normal mode and a service mode.

17. A toilet according to claim 1, further comprising a bowl/base combination housing the base assembly, the flush lever assembly and the controller, the bowl/base combination being of one-piece and formed entirely of china.

18. A flush valve assembly for a toilet, the flush valve assembly comprising:

an electrically-operated flush valve for opening and closing a passage to a waste receiving area;

a controller communicating with a water inlet valve and the flush valve, the controller opening and closing the water inlet valve and controlling a position of the flush valve in accordance with a position of a flush actuating mechanism;

wherein the flush valve is displaceable between a sealed position and a full open position, and wherein the controller controls the position of the flush valve through a programmed cycle from the sealed position to the full open position and back to the sealed position in accordance with a signal from the flush actuating mechanism;

wherein the flush valve comprises an open limit switch that detects when the flush valve is in the full open position and a closed limit switch that detects when the flush valve is in the sealed position; and

wherein the flush valve is mounted on a valve shaft, and wherein the flush valve further comprises a first cam lobe that engages the open limit switch when the flush valve is in the full open position and a second cam lobe that engages the closed limit switch when the flush valve is in the sealed position.

19. A flush valve assembly according to claim 18, wherein the flush valve further comprises:

a valve motor controlled by the controller and having a motor output shaft;

a follower lever coupled with the valve shaft; and

a cam lever engaging the follower lever at one end and the motor output shaft at an opposite end.

20. A flush valve assembly for a toilet, the flush valve assembly comprising:

an electrically-operated flush valve for opening and closing a passage to a waste receiving area;

a controller communicating with a water inlet valve and the flush valve, the controller opening and closing the water inlet valve and controlling a position of the flush valve in accordance with a position of a flush actuating mechanism;

wherein the flush valve is displaceable between a sealed position and a full open position, and wherein the controller controls the position of the flush valve through a programmed cycle from the sealed position to the full open position and back to the sealed position in accordance with a signal from the flush actuating mechanism;

wherein the programmed cycle carried out by the controller opens the flush valve for a predetermined period of time during a flush cycle; and

wherein the programmed cycle carried out by the controller begins opening the flush valve for a first predetermined period of time, then stops opening the flush valve for a second predetermined period of time, then continues opening until the flush valve reaches the full open position.

21. A flush valve assembly according to claim 20, wherein the first predetermined period of time is 0.1 seconds and the second predetermined period of time is 0.2 seconds.

22. A method of operating a toilet suitable for a boat, recreational vehicle, bus or the like, the method comprising:

(a) detecting a position of a flush lever in a flush lever assembly; and

(b) controlling a water inlet valve and an electrically-operated flush valve that opens and closes a passage to a waste receiving area in accordance with a position of the flush lever by initiating a flush cycle in a “

flush”

position and initiating an add water cycle in an “

add water”

position.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the flush valve is displaceable between a sealed position and a full open position, and wherein step (b) is practiced by controlling a position of the flush valve through a programmed cycle from the sealed position to the full open position and back to the sealed position in accordance with a signal from the flush lever.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein step (b) is further practiced by detecting when the flush valve is in the full open position and detecting when the flush valve is in the sealed position.

25. A method according to claim 23, wherein the programmed cycle is carried out by opening the flush valve for a predetermined period of time during the flush cycle.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the programmed cycle is carried out by opening the flush valve in stages.

27. A method according to claim 25, wherein the programmed cycle is carried out by opening the flush valve for a first predetermined period of time, stopping opening of the flush valve for a second predetermined period of time, then continuing opening until the flush valve reaches the full open position.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein the first predetermined period of time is 0.1 seconds and the second predetermined period of time is 0.2 seconds.

29. A method according to claim 22, wherein step (b) is practiced by opening the water inlet valve during the flush cycle for a time that is based on a position of a user-operated water level switch.

30. A method according to claim 22, wherein step (b) is practiced by limiting a time of the add water cycle based on a position of a user-operated water level switch.

31. A method according to claim 22, further comprising enabling operator selection between a normal mode and a service mode.

32. A toilet comprising:

a bowl;

a flush valve that opens and closes a passage from the bowl to a waste receiving area;

a water level switch having a first state and a second state;

a water inlet valve connected to admit water into the bowl;

flush controller connected to operate the flush valve and the water inlet valve, wherein at least one of the water inlet valve and the flush valve are controlled to a fill the bowl to a first water level when the water level switch is in the first state and at least one of the water inlet valve and the flush valve are controlled to fill the bowl to a second water level when the water level switch is in the second state.

33. A toilet according to claim 32, wherein the flush controller is connected to open the water inlet valve for a time dependent on the state of the water level switch.

34. A toilet according to claim 32, wherein the flush controller is connected to open the water inlet valve for a longer time when the water level switch is in the first state and a shorter time when the water level switch is in the second state.

35. A method of operating a toilet comprising the steps of:

detecting a state of a water level switch having at least two states;

operating at least one of the flush valve and the water inlet valve to fill the bowl to a first water level when the water level switch is in a first one of the states; and

operating at least one of the flush valve and the water inlet valve to fill the bowl to a second water level when the water level switch is in a second one of the states.