Mobile or stationary modular self-contained dehydration toilet, dehydration engine, and gray water recovery system

• US 7,211,187 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zeco, Inc. (The Vincit Company, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Steven Lumbert
• Inventors: Lumbert, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Savage; Matthew O.
• Application Number:
  US10/904,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20060091083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 210/153, 210178-180, 210/192, 210/205, 422/71, 431/3, 431/7, 432/2, 432/0
• US Class Current: 210/153
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/048 Purification of waste water by evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/463 by electrocoagulation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 11/13 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/002 Grey water, e.g. from clothes washers, showers or dishwashers
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/005 Black water originating from toilets
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/008 Mobile apparatus and plants, e.g. mounted on a vehicle for biological treatment C02F2203/008
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/009 Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower, fuel cells for electrolysis apparatus C02F2201/46165
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/006 comprising a software program or a logic diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/02 Odour removal or prevention of malodour
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/1273 Submerged membrane bioreactors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/212 Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage

Abstract

A compact dehydration engine and method for treating human waste and gray water residual electro-coagulants that includes a heated waste dehydration chamber that has low energy consumption and low water consumption in use. The system can be employed in stationary or mobile platforms that include multiple toilets and gray water sources for reclamation.

Claims

1. A system for reducing human body waste to a dry powder that is safe for disposal comprising:

a dehydration engine for waste products;

a self-contained dehydration toilet having a flush bowl, a fresh water holding tank, and a toilet lid;

a source of ozone connected to said holding tank to reduce odors;

a dump valve manual handle;

a dump valve connected to said manual handle to activate said dump valve, which connects said toilet flush bowl directly as an input to said dehydration engine, and which can be activated by manual operation of the manual handle to release water from the holding tank and ozone into the flush bowl so that its contents flow into the dehydration engine;

said dehydration engine including a dehydration engine chamber having one or more cylindrical chambers mounted side-by-side connected to said toilet flush bowl by said dump valve;

said cylinders including one or more elongated electric heating elements mounted around the periphery of each cylinder for heating waste flushed from the toilet;

an electric power controller connectable by a plug to an electric power source and is connected to each heating element on the outside walls of said cylinders and which activates said heating elements at predetermined times;

a plastic helical blade disposed longitudinally within each of the cylinders for stirring the waste, including a blade member having numerous apertures throughout to allow liquid to pass through and a blade shaft;

a motor;

said blade shafts being engaged with said motor connected to said controller which can rotate said helical blades in alternating directions within the chamber and which is activated by said controller for the heating elements;

said controller for the electrical power to the heating elements;

said controller for the electrical power to the heating elements including a software program that determines by temperature sensing and time the most efficient power curve for the heating elements thereby activating said heating elements after a predetermined number of flushes to evaporate the water;

a steam conduit connection to said cylinders; and

an exhaust fan activated once the temperature within the dehydration engine reaches 212 degrees Fahrenheit, which is connected to said dehydration engine and also is connected by said steam conduit as an output to a said freshwater holding tank so that steam is removed from said engine through a stream vent into said steam conduit to the freshwater holding tank as recovered condensate water.