The present invention relates to waterless urinals, and more particularly to a hybrid waterless flushing system that has the benefit of a waterless urinal cartridge but also includes a flushing system for cleaning portions of a housing in which the cartridge can be fitted; a cartridge that is fitted within the housing; and plumbing connected with the housing.
Water is a scarce and diminishing resource in many areas of the world. It is widely recognized that more has to be done to conserve its usage as populations grow and climate changes drive need. Water conserving products are becoming more and more important not only for the quality of human life but also for sanitary and subsistence reasons.
There have been many water conserving measures taken all over the world in an effort to deal with limited and diminishing resources. Many municipalities have implemented rationing plans. Others have invested in wastewater recycling treatment and re-use. There have also been many water conserving products introduced into the marketplace. These products have become more and more widely used by industry and homeowners as regulations and the rising cost of water usage drive change.
Two major lines of product designed to save water are non-flushing urinals and
High Efficiency Urinals (HEUs). Both the non-flushing urinals and HEUs use far less water than traditional urinals. Savings of water per year for a single urinal can amount to as much as 40,000 gallons in the case of water-free systems, and roughly 20,000 to 30,000 gallons when a HEU is installed in place of a traditional urinal.
Non-flushing urinals use the least amount of water of any urinal system and are comprised of three major components: a porcelain urinal, a housing, and a cartridge. The porcelain urinal component is very similar to that of a traditional urinal. The housing and cartridge replace the traditional P-trap, which normally would connect a urinal to a building's plumbing. Thus, the housing sits in-line between the building's plumbing and the bottom of the urinal where the drain pipe would normally connect. The cartridge which contains the trap fits in the housing and can be removed for servicing and replacement.
There are two types of cartridge styles: liquid traps and mechanical valves. The liquid trap-style cartridge serves two purposes. First, it acts as a barrier from sewer gasses and odors coming into the restroom. Second, it acts as a filter for removing some of the solids that precipitate from the human urine (a super-saturated liquid). Human urine is an aqueous solution of greater than 95% water, with the remaining constituents, in order of decreasing concentration: urea 9.3 g/L, chloride 1.87 g/L, sodium 1.17 g/L, potassium 0.750 g/L, creatinine 0.670 g/L, and other dissolved ions, inorganic and organic compounds; according to the NASA Contractor Report No. NASA CR-1802, D. F. Putnam, July 1971.
The liquid trap-style cartridge works by using the following mechanisms. First, urine fills the P-trap of the cartridge forming a barrier against sewer gasses; just as water does in a traditional P-trap-based urinal. Second, a layer of low density fluid, such as oil, is poured into the trap so that it floats on top of the urine. This floating oil forms a barrier, helping to keep unpleasant urine smells from entering the bathroom. As the user urinates into the urinal, fresh urine enters the cartridge, sinks through the floating oil barrier, and presses out the old urine from the trap through the housing exit tube and into the building's plumbing.
The mechanical valve non-flushing urinals work in a slightly different manner. All components are similar to the above-mentioned liquid trap-style non-flushing urinal, except for the cartridge. In this case, rather than using a liquid sealant, some form of a mechanical valve is utilized. The mechanical valve allows urine to pass through while blocking the gas and the odor from escaping back through the system and into the restroom. The valve can be housed in a cartridge or, if replaceable, serve as the cartridge itself. One example of a mechanical valve cartridge is that made by Liquidbreaker, LLC (5575 Magnatron Blvd., San Diego, Calif. 92111); the subject of a U.S. Pat. No. 7,900,288 (hereinafter the '288 patent). In this model, two silicone flaps rest on plastic seats in a cartridge; forming a one-way barrier. When urine flows down, it puts weight onto the silicon flaps at the center of the cartridge and the flaps open up. When the urine drips off of the flaps and into the housing, the valves close; thus sealing out gasses. Another example of a mechanical valve cartridge, similar to one manufactured and sold by Enswico AG (Gewerbestrasse 20, 8132 Egg bei Zürich, Switzerland), uses a duckbill type valve rather than the style used in the '288 patent. Another type of a mechanical valve cartridge, similar to one manufactured and sold under the Whiffaway and Saracen brands (WhiffAway Ltd., Unit 6, Premacto Business Estate, Queensmead Road, High Wycombe HP10 9XA, UK), uses a mechanical valve itself as the cartridge. Still yet another type of mechanical valve cartridge, similar to the one manufactured and sold under the Helvex brand (Helvex S.A. de C.V./Calzada Coltongo 293, Colonia Industrial Vallejo, 02300, Mexico), uses a sphere-shaped ball that forms a seal by seating into a hole at the bottom of a cartridge and then floating up when surrounded by urine; consequently opening the valve when urine is present and closing it when the cartridge is empty. There are advantages and shortcomings to both liquid trap and mechanical valve-type non-flushing urinals; however before these are discussed, an explanation of the workings of HEUs and their components is presented.
The High Efficiency Urinals (HEUs) have three major components: a urinal, a flush valve, and a trap. An example of a flush valve is model Royal 186-0.125, manufactured by The Sloan Valve Company (10500 Seymour Ave., Franklin Park, Ill. 60131); and associated piping and actuator mechanisms. However, other water control valves would be suitable in place of the Sloan Royal 186-0.125. The trap is sometimes built into the porcelain urinal and is sometimes made of metal tubing and attached to the bottom of the porcelain urinal to act as a drain. To save water over traditional urinals, HEUs are designed with P-traps of a much smaller diameter than those used in the traditional flush urinals and their flush valves are designed to flush using a lesser quantity of water per flush. The smaller diameter trap naturally holds a lower volume of water and thus needs less water to be flushed. The water provides a barrier to the sewer gasses escaping into the room just as in a traditional urinal.
Non-flushing urinals have significant advantages over HEUs. Non-flushing urinals use virtually no water. HEUs, on the other hand, while using less water than the traditional urinals, still use 25% to 50% as much as traditional urinals (or even more). The non-flushing urinals also have a key advantage in cleanliness and bacteria growth management. Multiple studies, for example those performed by the St. Louis County Health Department On Bio-Aerosols and the UCLA Waterfree Urinal Research Project, show that less bacteria forms on the porcelain surface of a urinal where no water is introduced as compared to a traditional urinal.
With both the HEU and non-flushing systems on the market today, there are big gains in water savings over the traditional urinals; however, both are still relatively new technologies and have some well-known shortcomings. With non-flushing urinals, a greater amount of care and service is required for proper operation. This care is not always taken. The liquid cartridge cannot be easily flushed with outside water (for example with a bucket of water that has been used for mopping). Dumping of a bucket of water in a non-flushing urinal may have the effect of overwhelming the oil barrier and washing it out of the system, leaving urine odor free to fill the restroom. Also, due to the slow velocity of the urine, along with the natural turbulence created as it flows down the pipes of the building, solids tend to precipitate out of the urine and build up in the piping. While various forms of buildup are common for all urinals, it is also true that there is little water available to clear or washout certain types of buildup. Struvite buildup has been found to be particularly problematic. Struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate) is a phosphate mineral with the formula: NH4MgPO4.6H2O. Struvite crystallizes in the orthorhombic system as white to yellowish or brownish-white pyramidal crystals or in platey mica-like forms. It is a soft mineral with Mohs hardness of 1.5 to 2 and has a low specific gravity of 1.7. It is sparingly soluble in neutral and alkaline conditions, but readily soluble in acid.
With HEU's the amount of water per flush is dramatically reduced as compared with traditional flush urinals. HEUs are required to flush with each use, but the amount of water introduced to a building's plumbing system each time is minimal. Many models flush only a pint of water—where older urinals flushed between a gallon and three gallons. Thus the pipes experience a trickle of water that is flowing at a relatively slow speed rather than a rush of water with a more significant flow the pipes were designed to take. This trickling of the small amounts of water stresses the plumbing system, as water sits in the imperfectly sloped pipes of older buildings or deposits solids like struvite as it slowly flows through the bumpy iron piping.
Struvite buildup can be particularly problematic in the leg between the urinal and the building's down pipes. This is a problem in both mechanical and liquid trap non-flushing systems unless they are regularly flushed out with water. Past that area, the building's down-pipes are often rinsed out with water from other sources in the building. Struvite also tends to build up on the bottom of the urinal housing, leaving a very unpleasant odor and appearance. This makes changing the cartridge an unpleasant chore for the maintenance staff. Because the liquid trap acts as a filter, holding solids inside, flushing could push trapped solids out of the cartridge and into the building's piping with no means to rinse them away after that if not done thoroughly—which could lead to more clogged pipes—so flushing a liquid trap cartridge with water can have negative effects. When pipes are clogged, they must be snaked out. This can be a difficult and unpleasant process.
Struvite also builds up in areas prone to splashing, such as the area underneath the exit of the cartridge. The splashing of urine causes solids to precipitate out and significant buildup can occur at the point of splash. Additionally, struvite will build up where urine flow is slow or still. When the urinal is used, there is initially a strong stream of urine, but it tapers off to a few droplets at the end of the use. These droplets move slowly through the system, building up struvite residue on drip edges and surfaces along the outlet compartment, the housing, and the housing exit tube in particular. One of the advantages of the present invention is that it can be placed to target these areas and simultaneously bring a high pressure jet of water or targeted flow of water that scrubs the key surfaces prone to buildup.
With non-flushing mechanical cartridge valves, there are other issues. When a mechanical cartridge valve fails (for example if it were to get jammed with an object like gum or hair), it fails in the open position. This is a significant problem as sewer gasses are then free to enter the restroom. Struvite is known to build up on the working surfaces of the mechanical valves and can jam them open or glue them shut. In fact, the current United States Plumbing Code strictly forbids the mechanical valves of any kind as a replacement for liquid traps due to failure concerns. Struvite buildup tends to occur on and around the sealing surface of the mechanical valves and below the valve in the housing area where the drip edge of the mechanical valve drips. These drips cause splash, and splash causes the urine to precipitate its solids. As previously mentioned, it is a known fact that urine is a super-saturated material and that super-saturated materials can precipitate due to turbulence or shock. Thus it is important to regularly flush mechanical valves with water—which can be onerous on the maintenance team who may not have a good source for filling heavy buckets for many urinals each day. For this reason, mechanical valves often fail due to the requirements of constant service.
HEUs also have shortcomings as compared with the performance of the traditional urinals. First, the smaller traps are prone to clogging. Clogging causes flooding. Flooding is an expensive and dangerous situation in many restrooms. Second, the traps, which often hold as little as a pint or less, are prone to evaporation. If the trap evaporates to a certain level, sewer gasses are free to flow into the restroom. Third, because water is mixed with urine regularly as it goes down the pipes, there is the general buildup in the pipes of hard calcified material that occurs with all water-using urinals. While this would normally be no worse than a traditional urinal; due to the small inside diameter of the HEU models, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to properly snake out the plumbing without removing the entire urinal from the wall—a costly and unpleasant job. A fourth known issue with the existing HEUs is that while they use less water than the traditional urinals, they still require flushing with every use to remove standing urine from the trap.
For all of these reasons, there is a demand for a better urinal solution. One such solution is a hybrid flushing system, in which a significant amount of water can be saved over traditional urinals with the system being more robust against the common failures outlined above. It is the focus of the present invention to create a hybrid flushing system that solves the problems outlined above and provides both service personnel and end users with a more trouble free experience while saving a significant amount of water over traditional urinal and HEU models.
The present invention is intended to overcome many of the shortcomings of both traditional and non-flushing systems by providing a hybrid flushing system that uses an odor and gas blocking mechanism in combination with a high efficiency flushing system. This hybrid flushing system uses only slightly more water than a non-flushing urinal, while delivering performance and ease of service matching or better than a High Efficiency Urinal (HEU) or a traditional urinal. It accomplishes this by using known gas sealing systems available in today's non-flushing urinals that use mechanical valves or liquid traps to seal off gasses, combined with focused flushing and cleaning and/or timed flushing and cleaning. By bringing this highly focused and/or timed flush to a water free urinal, one can accomplish the goal of using very little water, while keeping pipes clean and the valve or trap mechanisms free from clog and buildup.
The present invention relates to waterless urinals, and more particularly to a hybrid waterless flushing system that has the benefit of a waterless urinal cartridge but also includes a flushing system for cleaning portions of a housing in which the cartridge can be fitted, a cartridge that is fitted within the housing, and plumbing connected with the housing.
In one aspect, the present invention relates to a housing comprising a wall portion forming a cavity for receiving a cartridge. The housing further comprises a flushing fluid inlet portion for receiving a flushing fluid and a flushing fluid directing portion configured to receive the flushing fluid from the flushing fluid inlet portion and to direct the flushing fluid.
In another aspect, the flushing fluid directing portion is integral with the flushing fluid inlet portion.
In still another aspect, the flushing fluid directing portion is configured to direct the fluid from the flushing fluid inlet into the cavity such that the flushing fluid flows substantially tangentially with respect to the wall and exits through a fluid exit portion.
In yet another aspect, the flushing fluid directing portion is on a flange of the cavity of the housing.
In a further aspect, the housing further comprises a fluid exit portion configured to accelerate the flushing fluid.
In a still further aspect, the housing further comprises a sealing surface for connecting the housing with a cartridge such that flushing fluid may flow therebetween in a fluid-tight manner.
In a yet further aspect, the housing further comprises a fluid exit portion configured to be connected with a cartridge.
In another aspect, the housing further comprises a fluid exit portion comprising a compliant inlet director.
In still another aspect, the hybrid flushing system further comprises a vent channel from a plumbing vent pipe to the housing cavity to allow airflow therethrough.
In yet another aspect, the present invention comprises a cartridge for a hybrid flushing system. The cartridge comprises a cartridge wall, a flushing fluid receiving portion and a flushing fluid directing portion where the cartridge directs flushing fluid received from the fluid receiving portion into the hybrid flushing system.
In a further aspect, the flushing fluid directing portion is configured to direct a portion flushing fluid into a location, examples of which include: before a trap portion of the cartridge, into a mid-trap portion of the cartridge, and after a trap portion of the cartridge.
In a still further aspect, the cartridge is formed such that when mated with a housing, forms a channel there between for directing the flushing fluid.
In a yet further aspect, the fluid directing portion is configured to modify the flow of the flushing fluid in a manner selected from a group consisting of accelerating and aiming the flushing fluid.
In another aspect, the flushing fluid directing portion is a narrowed aperture.
In still another aspect, the cartridge further comprises a control for providing instructions to a flush system.
In yet another aspect, the control is selected from a magnet, an electronic control device, and a mechanical control device.
In a further aspect, the control provides instructions to a flush system for adjusting a flushing characteristic, examples of which include flush volume, flush frequency, flush enable/disable, flush pressure, flush type, flush location, and flushes available after cartridge removal.
In a still further aspect, the control is configured to provide identifying information to the flush system.
In a yet further aspect, the hybrid flushing system further comprises a fluid trap formed between the flushing fluid receiving portion and the flushing fluid directing portion.
In another aspect, the hybrid flushing system comprises a housing for receiving a cartridge, a flushing fluid system comprising a flushing fluid receiving portion and a flushing fluid exit portion, and a pump for pumping flushing fluid to the flushing fluid receiving portion of the flushing fluid system.
In still another aspect, the hybrid flushing system further comprises an air-gap system for providing flushing fluid to the pump.
In yet another aspect, the air-gap system is a cistern.
In a further aspect, the pump is configured to pump flushing fluid in a mode selected from a group of pulsing, pressure-varying, and volume-varying.
In a still further aspect, the hybrid flushing system comprises a housing for receiving a cartridge, a flushing fluid system comprising a flushing fluid receiving portion and a flushing fluid directing portion.
In a yet further aspect, the hybrid flushing system further comprises a trap disposed between the air-gap device and the housing.
In another aspect, the invention comprises a method for cleaning a hybrid flushing system comprising an act of directing a flushing fluid into an area, where the area is one or more of a cartridge for a hybrid flushing system, a housing for a hybrid flushing system, and a plumbing system connected with the hybrid flushing system.
In still another aspect, in the act of directing the flushing fluid, the flushing fluid is directed through a fluid path, where the fluid path passes through an area selected from a group consisting of a housing for a hybrid flushing system, a cartridge for a hybrid flushing system, and a path formed by a combination of a housing for a hybrid system and a cartridge for a hybrid flushing system.
The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptions of the various aspects of the invention in conjunction with reference to the following drawings, where:
The present invention relates to creating a hybrid flushing system, more particularly, a system that uses an odor and gas blocking mechanism in combination with a high efficiency flushing and cleaning system. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses in different applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. For example, the individual components described may be formed as discrete parts or integrated together as a single unit. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without necessarily being limited to these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.
Further, where appropriate, numbers for elements shown in figures depicting prior art devices are followed by a “-P” to indicate that they are referring to prior art figures. The actual structure used with respect to the present invention may be the same or different than that used in the prior art; specific similarities and/or differences being understandable in context.
The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All the features disclosed in this specification, (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
Furthermore, any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” or “act of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6.
Before describing the invention in detail, an introduction is provided to give the reader a general understanding of the present invention. Next, a description of various aspects of the present invention is provided to give an understanding of the specific details.
(1) Introduction
This section presents information regarding the various types of urinals currently in use and how they operate. There are three types of urinals currently in use: traditional urinals, High Efficiently Urinals (HEUs), and non-flushing urinals.
An example of a traditional (prior art) “wash down” urinal design is illustrated in a cutaway side view in
High Efficiency Urinals (HEUs) operate with the same mechanisms, but use a trap 104-P with a much smaller volume. This means that they require less water to flush out the trap 104-P, but they still require a flush with each use. Non-flushing urinals use the least amount of water, relying on one of two mechanisms to seal out gas and odor: the first is a mechanical means with a mechanical odor barrier and the second is a liquid trap with a lighter-than-wastewater liquid barrier.
The present invention is intended to overcome many of the shortcomings of the current systems, through a hybrid flushing system solution that uses only slightly more water than the non-flushing urinal, while delivering performance and ease of service comparable to the HEU or the traditional urinal. It accomplishes this by using the known gas sealing systems available in today's non-flushing urinals and combining them with the focused flushing and cleaning systems. This system also keeps the pipes clean and the valve or the trap mechanisms free from any clog and buildup by using efficient flushing and cleaning with little water use. Additionally, this focused flushing and cleaning lends itself well to existing technology for timed flushes, which means that the user never has to touch the urinal and will not override the system with waste-water. Furthermore, the placement of the focused flushing combined with the high pressure spray heads or increased velocity bring the power wash to critical areas adding even more efficiency in water use, while avoiding the buildup of lime, struvite, and other substances.
Accordingly, the present invention includes several aspects: a housing for a hybrid flushing system, a cartridge for a hybrid flushing system, and combination of a housing and a cartridge for a hybrid flushing system, and a method for cleaning a hybrid urinal system. Further, although the housing and cartridge may be formed as separate devices, one of skill in the art will appreciate that they could be formed integrally as well.
(2) Housing
An example of a prior art housing for a water free urinal is show in a cutaway view
The prior art housing of
Another side cross-sectional view of the prior art housing 200-P is presented in
A front cross-sectional view of the prior art housing 200-P is presented in
A top view of the prior art housing 200-P is presented in
In order to eliminate buildup, a hybrid housing body 200 according to the present invention, and as shown in
A high pressure spray head is an advantage in most situations; however, it may be preferred in some instances to simply focus the flushing fluid rather than increasing the intensity of the flow. In these cases, the invention can be used as described but without the high pressure spray head. Further, the flushing fluid directing portion 710 can operate in any manner desired for shaping and directing the flushing fluid spray. Additionally, the flushing fluid directing portion 710 can be located in a variety of places, such as near the housing exit tube 208, adjacent the building's drainage pipe or further within the trap (these examples will be illustrated further below (see, e.g.,
Gravity fed low pressure systems are also contemplated by the present invention. In these cases, rather than saving water by making the cleaning process more efficient through the use of pressure, or shape of spray, a higher volume used in a less frequent manner can be applied. Here, pipes, in particular those of existing and older buildings, can receive the volume of water they were designed to take to carry the waste away, a process known by those skilled in the art as line carry. However, this volume can be introduced on a timed/periodic basis; allowing the urinal to operate water-free between flushes to save water. This type of volume flush can be combined with a focusing and aiming of the water to add efficiency.
Another example of a hybrid housing body 200 is shown in a cutaway view in
A top view of the hybrid housing body 200 presented in
A cutaway top view of another non-limiting example of a hybrid housing body 200 is presented in
A cutaway side view of the self-cleaning mechanism inserted into a hybrid housing body 200 is presented in
In the detail view shown in
It is important to note that many of the ideas presented in this section are also applicable to a cartridge (either mechanical or liquid trap types) to be disposed within the hybrid housing body 200.
A cross section of a hybrid housing body 200 with a built-in high pressure spray head 710 (as the flushing fluid directing portion) is shown in
A hybrid housing body 200 connected with a porcelain urinal 102 and a trap 104, but without a cartridge inserted, is shown in
A cross section taken through line CC in
A hybrid housing body 200 is shown in
A cross section of the housing exit tube 208 taken along line ZZ in
(3) Cartridge
Many of the general ideas used in the hybrid housing body 200 just presented are applicable to cartridges for use in hybrid urinals. For reference, a prior art cartridge 600-P is presented in left view in
A cartridge 600 according to the present invention is shown in
A side view illustration of a cartridge with a side mount self-clean mechanism is shown in
A side view illustration of a cartridge with an internal self-clean mechanism according to the present invention is presented in
A front view illustration of a cartridge with an under-mount self-clean mechanism and a spray focused on a housing exit tube according to the present invention is presented in
A front view illustration of a cartridge 600 with an internal self-clean mechanism focused on a discharge section according to the present invention is presented in
A front view illustration of a cartridge 600 with an internal or an integrated self-clean mechanism according to the present invention is presented in
A rear view illustration of a cartridge 600 with an internal, an external, or an integrated self-clean mechanism focused on a housing exit 208 (not shown) according to the present invention is presented in
An illustration of a cutaway side view of a cartridge 600 with an integrated self-clean mechanism and an internal flush according to the present invention is shown in
An illustration of a cutaway side view of a cartridge 600 with an integrated self-clean mechanism and an external flush focused on a housing exit 208 (not shown), according to the present invention is presented in
An example of a fluid trap cartridge 600 is the C1M2+ model by Falcon Waterfree Technologies, LLC (2255 Barry Avenue, Los Angeles, Calif. 90064 USA). These cartridges can be better understood with reference to U.S. Pat. No. 7,571,741. The chambers are prone to struvite buildup and are made to be disposable so that when struvite builds to the point that a cartridge no longer permits sufficient urine flow therethrough, the cartridge 600 can be changed.
An illustration of a cutaway side view of a cartridge with an integrated self-clean mechanism and an external flush focused on a housing exit tube, where the self-clean mechanism cartridge fluid interface is on the bottom of the cartridge rather than the side according to the present invention, is shown in
An illustration of a cutaway side view of a cartridge with an under-mount self-clean mechanism, similar to that seen in
An illustration of a cutaway side view of a cartridge with a side mount self-clean mechanism and a discharge section focus according to the present invention is presented in
An illustration of a cutaway side view of a cartridge with an internal self-clean mechanism with a spray focused on the internal chambers according to the present invention is presented in
An illustration of a cutaway side view of a cartridge with an internal self-clean mechanism with a spray focused out of the cartridge 600 toward/on a housing exit tube (not shown) according to the present invention is presented in
An illustration of a cutaway top view of a cartridge 600 with an under-mount self-clean mechanism with a spray focused through a housing exit 1704 is presented in
An illustration of a cutaway top view of a cartridge 600 with a self-clean mechanism focused into the interior of the cartridge 600 along the cartridge bottom 1800 or at the area of the cartridge exit 1704 is presented in
An illustration of a cutaway top view of a cartridge 600 with an internal self-clean mechanism and an internal flush according to the present invention is presented in
An illustration of a cutaway top view of a cartridge 600 with an internal self-clean mechanism (as indicated by the dashed line portion of the fluid transfer tube 1200) focused on a housing exit tube 208, according to the present invention, is presented in
An illustration of a cutaway side view of a mechanical valve cartridge 3700 with a spray kit where a self-rinse valve is installed in the cartridge 3700 and connected with a flushing fluid transfer tube 708 according to the present invention is presented in
An illustration of a mechanical valve cartridge 3700 with the mechanical valve 3702 removed and showing a flushing fluid receiving portion 1900 and a debris screen 3706 according to the present invention is presented in
An illustration of a cutaway side view of a mechanical self-rinse valve with a spray self-clean kit 704 and connected to a flushing fluid transfer tube 708, according to the present invention is presented in
An illustration of a cutaway side view of a self-rinse mechanical valve cartridge 3700 with the rinse holes 3708 to allow the flushing fluid to pass through the valve wall and rinse the valve and the holes placed above a sealing section of the valve according to the present invention is presented in
An illustration of a cutaway side view of a mechanical valve cartridge 3700 with a self-clean mechanism where the self-rinse mechanical valve 3702 is installed in the cartridge and connected through an integrated fluid channel 1200 (a built-in fluid channel) from a side inlet (flushing fluid receiving portion 1900) through the cartridge 3700 and to a flushing fluid communication channel 3710 according to the present invention is shown in
An illustration of a self-cleaning mechanism/kit 704 that carries fluid from a housing 200 to a desired spot for focused flushing and cleaning according to the present invention is presented in
A top view of a hybrid flushing system mechanical cartridge 3700 is shown in
An illustration of a mechanical valve 3702 for a mechanical cartridge 3700 for a water-free urinal with the rinsing holes 3708 that allow flushing water to pass therethrough and into the valve 3702 to help clean it according to the present invention is shown in
An isometric view of a cartridge 600 for a hybrid flushing system is presented in
A side cutaway view of a mechanical valve cartridge 3700, utilizing an umbrella style mechanical valve 3702 with fluid pass through portions 4800 is shown in
A left side view of another fluid trap type cartridge 600 according to the present invention is presented in
An isometric view of a cartridge 600, seen in
A left side cutaway view of the same cartridge 600 shown in
An isometric view of another cartridge for a waterless urinal according to the present invention is shown in
A cross section taken through the line AA shown in
A cross sectional view, taken through the line AA shown in
A cross-section of a hybrid flushing system with a mechanical cartridge 3700, a housing 200, and a P-trap 104 assembled to a urinal 102 is shown in
A side cross section of a cartridge 3700 with the spray heads 710 and an internal fluid channel 3710 and inserted into a urinal 102 is shown in
The same cartridge 3700 as seen in
(4) Housing/Cartridge Combinations and Other Aspects
To this point, the housing and cartridge aspects of the invention have been described along with some housing/cartridge combinations. This section will explore further aspects more directed toward the housing/cartridge combinations. Reference to prior figures will be made as necessary for a better understanding of the invention. Before delving into further aspects of the invention, a discussion of the prior art cartridge/housing combinations are presented.
A left side cutaway view of a prior art cartridge 600-P inserted into a prior art housing 200-P is shown in
A left side cutaway view of a prior art mechanical valve cartridge 3700-P is shown in
An illustration of a cutaway side view of a housing 200 with a housing fluid interface 702 at a side wall of the housing 200 and with a cartridge 600 and an under-mount self-clean mechanism focused on a housing exit tube is shown in
An illustration of a cutaway side view of a housing 200 with a housing fluid interface 702 at a side wall of the housing 200 and with a cartridge 600 and a side-mount self-clean mechanism focused on the cartridge discharge section 2618 is shown in
An illustration of a cutaway side view of a housing 200 with a housing fluid interface 706 at a side wall of the housing 200 and with a cartridge 600 and an internal self-clean mechanism focused on the inside of the cartridge 600 is shown in
An illustration of a cutaway side view of a housing 200 with a housing fluid interface 706 at a side wall of the housing 200 and with a cartridge 600 and an internal self-clean mechanism focused into the exit tube 208 of the housing 200 is presented in
An illustration of a cutaway side view of a mechanical valve cartridge 3700 with a spray kit installed in a housing 200 with a housing fluid interface 702 on a side wall of the housing 200 is presented in
The amount of flushing fluid that goes to either the flushing fluid directing portion 710 or the rinse holes 3708 of the mechanical valve 3702 can be controlled, for example, by the inside diameter of the water transfer tube 708 (whether it is a separate channel or built-in). For example, one of the two water transfer tubes 708 shown in
A fluid barrier cartridge 600 in a housing 200 with multiple fluid directing portions 710 (nozzles) is shown in
All of this could be done on a timed basis. Thus, in a situation with high traffic, for example, a sports arena where a traditional urinal might get flushed 30 to 40 times in an hour, a urinal utilizing the present invention could be set to flush a single time after the crowds had left, while never allowing odor to come back into the restroom. This results in a significant water savings and a significant performance improvement with the end users never having to touch the urinal at all.
In terms of components, the high pressure spray heads 710 can be an off-the-shelf type or can be built into a cartridge during the injection molding process. The cartridge is often injection molded from Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) plastic for its inexpensive nature and toughness, but many other materials such as Dow ST801 and other nylons are also appropriate.
A cartridge 600 with a built-in fluid channel 1200 and a cartridge flushing fluid receiving portion 1900 on the bottom rather than the side is presented in
An illustration of a cutaway side view of a housing 200 with a housing fluid interface 702 on a side wall of the housing 200 and a cartridge 600 with an integrated self-clean mechanism interfacing with the housing 200 on the side, and a cleaning spray 1904 focused on the cartridge 600 internal chambers is presented in
An illustration of a cutaway top view of a housing 200 and a cartridge 600 where the cutaway was taken through a fluid interface height of both the cartridge 600 and the housing 200 is presented in
An illustration of a top cutaway view of a housing 200 and a cartridge 600, where the cutaway was taken through a fluid interface height of both the cartridge 600 and the housing 200 is shown in
A simple locking interface between the housing 200 and the cartridge 600 is shown in
A cutaway side view schematic of the present invention in a full system is shown in
In
To enable an easy turn for the cartridge 600 while still creating a fluid tight seal between the housing 200 and cartridge 600, the housing fluid interface 702 includes a proud portion 5500 which compresses the O-ring 1160 to create the seal. This arrangement could be inverted if desired where the cartridge fluid interface 706 fits underneath the housing fluid interface 702 as the cartridge 600 is turned into the locking position. Generally, in any of the aspects presented herein, functionally similar inversions may be applied—thus, any of the fluid interfaces, whether on a cartridge 600 or on a housing 200 may be male or female in variety, as long as when mated, they form a fluid tight seal.
Fluid is then transferred through the self-clean mechanism (see
A cartridge 600 and housing 200 combination for use in a urinal 102 such as that shown in
Further,
Essentially the same sequence that was shown in
Again, the urinal system of the present invention does not have to flush each time, but can still be cleaned, more effectively than current flushing units, by using high pressure spray heads strategically placed to pressure wash the critical areas on a pre-determined schedule or after a certain number of uses.
It is understood that the self-clean mechanism could be operated without a high pressure head attached to the end of it and would do substantially the same job. However, it should be noted that the area 8000 of transition between the housing body 200 and the housing tube 208 is particularly prone to the struvite buildup as illustrated in
For clarity, a brief discussion of struvite is worthwhile here. Struvite has a relatively soft consistency similar to mayonnaise. As with cleaning mayonnaise from a spoon or a fork, the pressure of the water can play an important role. For example, though water leaving a faucet tap always has some level of pressure, if one were to put their thumb over the tap, it would create a high pressure spray. This spray has much better scrubbing power than the line pressure coming initially from the tap. Often kitchen sinks will have a high pressure spray head attached to or next to the main spray head. This high pressure spray dramatically increases the cleaning power of the water, and when used on the spoon or the knife with thick mayonnaise stuck to it, the washer can much more effectively “power wash” the implement without a need to scrub it by hand. Another example would be to put a high pressure spray head at the end of a hose in order to increase the velocity of the water exiting the hose pipe. In this manner, one can benefit from the higher pressure and more directed and forceful flow. Anyone who has ever tried to rinse off their car knows the benefits of putting a high pressure spray head on the end of the hose—for its improved cleaning power. In fact, it is common for a building's sewer pipes to need cleaning from buildup. One popular method is to have the building's pipes “jet cleaned.” “Jet cleaning” of pipes is a commonly understood term in the plumbing industry. It is widely recognized that “jet cleaning,” using water at high pressure, will clean what simply flushing water repeatedly through the system will not.
Flushing water that has been transferred through the housing interface 702 and the cartridge interface 706 is routed through the water transfer tube 708 (or integrated built-in fluid channel 1200) and can be aimed directly at critical buildup areas. Thus, in combination with the known liquid trap non-flushing cartridges (for example the C1M2+ cartridge by Falcon Waterfree Technologies), this self-clean mechanism can substantially improve operation of the non-flushing system providing all the benefits of the non-flushing system while keeping the pipes clean. There are other advantages associated with the invention's system as described, and other configurations, some of which will be discussed later in this application.
One of the other advantages of the system shown in
Because urinals are connected to the building's other plumbing, most pipes in the building get flushed out during the course of a day with water from urinals, sinks, and other sources. With the focused and timed flushes of the invention, the short section of the pipe between the urinal and the building's main plumbing now has a means to be flushed out using a minimal amount of water. The advantage comes from both placement and pressure. By using a high pressure head as the flushing fluid directing portion 710 and placing it proximate the entrance of the housing exit 208, the system can be designed to use a minimal amount of water and aim it right at the point that needs it most.
When the flush valve 100 is opened according to above-described preset parameters by actuation of a flush actuator 8200, the clean flushing fluid flows from a horizontal supply pipe 8202 through the flush valve 100 into and through the vertical supply pipe 7800 to the supply line 1108 as shown in
An alternative connection method from the housing 200 to the cartridge 600 is shown in
In operation, a user will urinate into a urinal 102 and urine will flow into the inlet 604 to the cartridge 600 (which could also be a mechanical cartridge 3700). In the case of a liquid trap cartridge, for example the C1M2+ cartridge from Falcon Waterfree Technologies, LLC, fresh urine will displace older urine that has been sitting in the cartridge 600 (or 3700). The older urine will run down into the housing 200 and most of it will drain out through the housing exit 208 and into the building's plumbing to the sewer system. However, each time urine passes through the cartridge and out through the housing exit tube, it leaves behind some sediment. This sediment will mostly be the struvite buildup 8000 (see
Another fluid interface is shown in
It is understood that any of the described fluid interface configurations, for example, those depicted in detail in
An illustration of a configuration of multiple hybrid urinals 102 fed water through a single valve 100 is shown in
A cutaway side view of a hybrid flushing system according to the present invention is presented in
A cutaway side view of a hybrid flushing system similar to that shown in
A top view of the cartridge 600 and the housing 200 is shown in
A side cutaway view of a cartridge 600 and a housing body 200 is shown in
Another embodiment of a housing 200 and cartridge 600 is presented in
An isometric view of a self-clean urinal system is presented in
A cross section of the cartridge 600 that was shown in
A configuration similar to
An illustration of the system in a complete form, installed in a urinal 102 (depicted with a dashed line) is presented in
Another urinal 102 is presented in
A schematic illustration of a hybrid flushing system incorporating the invention where the flushing water is provided by a pressurizing device 8602, such as the one made by the Flushmate Corporation (a division of Sloan Valve Co., 10500 Seymour Avenue, Franklin Park, Ill. 60131), is presented in
A hybrid flushing system schematic that embodies the invention in a configuration especially applicable to gravity feed or lower pressure situations, as discussed earlier, is shown in
A similar configuration to that presented in
A left side cross sectional view of the cartridge 600 previously shown in
A left side cross sectional view of a mechanical cartridge 3700, placed in a housing 200, which incorporates a housing fluid interface 702 and an inlet director 10400, as was shown in
A cross section of the same type of housing as seen in
A left side cross sectional view of a cartridge 600 with a pour spout 5000 shaped to direct the fluid substantially down rather than substantially horizontally is presented in
(5) Additional Considerations
An example of a flush valve for use with the present invention is Sloan Royal 186-0.125, which can be programmed to flush on a timer, manually, or from sensing a user, or after a certain number of users. Optimal efficiency will come from using timed flushes with the new invented system disclosed herein. Sensors can also be used inside of the housing to alert the flush valve to the existing buildup, telling it to flush. Other flush valves, for example, the Keremag Flush Control 1000 (by Keramag, Keramische Werke GmbH, Postfach 10 14 20, D—40834 Ratingen, Germany), can also be used. This type of a flush valve is equipped with timing control which can work well with the invention in helping it use as little water as possible by setting the high pressure spray action to occur on predetermined time intervals. Additionally, urinal service personnel may want to use a non-flushing cartridge that they are familiar with in the new inventive system. To accommodate this, a self-clean kit as depicted in
With certain devices that create an air gap, if too much flushing water is introduced at one time to the flushing line, the air gap device can overflow. By setting the system to introduce water in a pulse or a series of pulses, overflow of the air gap device can be prevented. A kill mechanism can be added to the flushing line so that if the air gap device is about to overflow, the valve shuts off any additional water. In this way the flushing can be optimized without concern of water leaking out of the air gap device. Additionally, flushing water can be introduced slowly to the air gap device, then more rapidly once the flow has commenced. In this way, the air gap device does not receive a single rush of water all at once which can cause overflow. By ramping up the volume of water introduced, the air gap device can reach its maximum flow rate without spilling over. One type of an air gap device category is the ASME a112.1.3. Additionally, by pulsing the flushing water in a pressurized system, there is an advantage to having high cleaning power yet with less water used from the start and stop of the spray on the various components at which it is aimed.
One of the most significant challenges facing all water conserving urinals, both HEU and non-flushing, is “line carry.” Line carry is a measure of how far down the plumbing pipes waste is carried when a urinal is flushed or used. With flushing urinals, as less and less water is being used in an effort to conserve, the distance any waste can be carried has also been diminished. One way to improve line carry, given a set amount of water, is to speed the velocity of the flow. This can be accomplished, for example, by increasing the fall or tilt of the building's plumbing pipes. Of course, this would require an entire re-plumbing of a building which can be cost prohibitive.
Another way to speed up the flow is to either pressurize the flushing water or introduce a narrowing of the channel in which the flushing water flows. Bernoulli's principle holds that any volume of fluid sent through a pipe will increase in velocity in the narrowed segment of the piping. For a hybrid urinal, one means of increasing the velocity of the flushing water is to use a velocity intensifying aperture as previously taught in this patent.
Yet another means for increasing the velocity of flushing water is to provide for a channel to be created between the inner housing wall and the outer cartridge wall when the cartridge is inserted into the housing. The cartridge can be shaped to optimize this channel, both directing and speeding flow down the exit of the housing. This can cause flushing fluid water to enter the housing exit and the building's plumbing section with a high velocity, even if the flushing water is fed with nothing more than gravity. This increased velocity can then carry waste further down the pipes, improving line carry. Even a few inches of improved line carry can be meaningful to the performance of a building's plumbing. The difference between waste not reaching the plumbing's vertical section, or “stacks,” by a few inches can mean the difference between a system that clogs and a system that remains open.
It will be appreciated to one of skill in the art that the invention disclosed herein may also be in the form of a method for cleaning a hybrid flushing system comprising an act of directing a flushing fluid into an area selected from a group consisting of a cartridge for a hybrid flushing system, a housing for a hybrid flushing system, and a plumbing system connected with the hybrid flushing system.
Further, in the act of directing the flushing fluid, the flushing fluid is directed through a fluid path, where the fluid path passes through an area selected from a group consisting of a housing for a hybrid flushing system, a cartridge for a hybrid flushing system, and a path formed by a combination of a housing for a hybrid system and a cartridge for a hybrid flushing system.
(6) Elements List
Following is a list of element names associated with element numbers in the figures. This list and these names are provided simply as a quick reference guide to assist the reader in more easily understanding the invention and are not meant to limit the invention to particular components/embodiments. Rather, they are intended to provide non-limiting examples for ease of reference.
100 Flush Valve/Pump/Actuator
102 Porcelain Urinal
104 Trap
106 Drain
200 Housing/Housing Body
202 Housing (Cavity)
204 Housing Flange
206 Housing Locking Mechanism
208 Housing Exit Tube
300 Housing Trough
600 Cartridge
602 Top Wall Flange
604 Inlet
700 Wall Portion
702 Housing Fluid Interface
704 Self-Cleaning Mechanism/Kit
706 Fluid Interface (Cartridge)
708 Flushing Fluid Transfer Tube
710 Flushing Fluid Directing Portion (High Pressure Spray Head)
712 Retainer Clip
800 Male Supply
802 Supply Fitting
1100 Connector Fitting
1102 Locking Pin
1104 Locking Slot
1106 O-Ring
1108 Supply Line
1200 Fluid Channel (Built-In)
1300 Locking Nut
1304 Arrow
1400 Swirling Lines
1500 Vent
1502 Air
1504 Plumbing Vent
1506 Water/Urine Combination
1700 Lock Tine (Cartridge)
1702 Cartridge Side Wall
1704 Cartridge Exit
1800 Bottom Wall (Cartridge)
1900 Flushing Fluid Receiving Portion
1902 Exit Drip Edge
1904 High Pressure Spray
2600 Throat
2602 Ceiling
2604 Overflow Level
2606 Inlet Compartment
2608 Vertical Separator
2610 Baffle
2612 Outlet Compartment Vertical Separator
2614 Outlet Compartment
2616 Overflow Gap
2618 Discharge Section
3700 Mechanical Valve Cartridge
3702 Mechanical Valve
3704 Sealing Section
3706 Debris Screen
3708 Rinse Holes
3710 Fluid Communication Channel
4800 Fluid Pass-Through Portion
5000 Pour Spout
5002 Side Seal
5100 Dividing Wall
5400 Integrated Trap
5402 Compliant Sealing Surface
5500 Sealing Surface (Proud)
5700 Switch Actuator Device
5702 Sensing Switch or Reader (Detector)
6000 Vent
6100 Vent Tube
6400 Arrows
6500 Arrows
7800 Vertical Supply Pipe
8000 Buildup Area (Struvite)
8200 Flush Actuator
8202 Horizontal Supply Pipe
8300 Supply Line
8600 Pump
8602 Back Pressure Prevention Device (Air Gap, Cistern, AVB, etc.)
9000 Rinse Outlet (Top)
9002 Rinsing Water
9300 Timer
9302 Manual Actuator
9400 Urinal Bowl
9402 Backing Plate
9600 Arrows
9700 Override Adapter
9702 Connection Wires
9900 Sensor
10200 Shaped Exit Area/Deflector/Concentrator
10202 Air Column
10400 Inlet Director
10600 V-Shaped Inlet
The present application is a Divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/264,037, filed on Apr. 28, 2014, entitled, “Hybrid Trap with Water Injection,” which is a Non-Provisional application of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/816,697, filed on Apr. 26, 2013, entitled “Hybrid Trap with Water Injection Cleaning,” U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/828,165, filed on May 28, 2013, entitled “Hybrid Trap with Water Injection Cleaning,” U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/911,594, filed on Dec. 4, 2013, entitled “Hybrid Trap with Water Injection,” U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/929,132, filed on Jan. 20, 2014, entitled “Hybrid Trap with Water Injection,” U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/828,153, filed on May 28, 2013, entitled “Tapered High Velocity Exit with Flexible Tip,” and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/928,999, filed on Jan. 17, 2014, entitled “Tapered High Velocity Exit with Flexible Tip,” the entirety of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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Office Action 1 for Mexican patent application No. MX/a/2015/014943; dated May 14, 2019. |
English translation of Office Action 1 for Mexican patent application No. MX/a/2015/014943; dated May 14, 2019. |
Response to Office Action 1 for Mexican patent application No. MX/a/2015/014943; dated Jul. 23, 2019. |
Office Action 2 for Mexican patent application No. MX/a/2015/014943; dated Sep. 20, 2019. |
Response to Office Action 2 for Mexican patent application No. MX/a/2015/014943; dated Dec. 5, 2019. |
Office Action 1 Translation and Remarks for Taiwan patent application No. 103115178; dated May 10, 2016. |
English Claims Response to Office Action 1 for Taiwan patent application No. 103115178; dated Nov. 9, 2016. |
Notice of Allowance for Taiwan patent application No. 103115178; dated Apr. 7, 2017. |
Office Action 1 Translation and Remarks for Taiwan patent application No. 105136471; dated Jun. 9, 2017. |
English Claims Response to Office Action 1 for Taiwan patent application No. 105136471; dated Aug. 29, 2017. |
Office Action 2 Decision of Rejection Translation and Remarks for Taiwan patent application No. 105136471; dated Dec. 11, 2017. |
Notice of Allowance for Taiwan patent application No. 105136471; dated Mar. 16, 2018. |
English translation for Office Action 1 for Chinese patent application No. 201480029767.5; dated Jul. 19, 2016. |
Response to Office Action 1 for Chinese patent application No. 201480029767.5; dated Feb. 3, 2017. |
English translation for Office Action 2 for Chinese patent application No. 201480029767.5; dated Mar. 9, 2017. |
Amended Claims for Response to Office Action 2 for Chinese patent application No. 201480029767.5; dated May 10, 2017. |
Response to Office Action 2 for Chinese patent application No. 201480029767.5; dated May 24, 2017. |
English translation for Office Action 3 for Chinese patent application No. 201480029767.5; dated Sep. 30, 2017. |
Response to Office Action 3 for Chinese patent application No. 201480029767.5; dated Dec. 14, 2017. |
English translation of Rejection Decision for Chinese patent application No. 201480029767.5; dated Jun. 14, 2018. |
Request for Reexamination for Chinese patent application No. 201480029767.5; dated Sep. 21, 2018. |
Amended claims for the Request for Reexamination for Chinese patent application No. 201480029767.5; dated Sep. 21, 2018. |
Response to Reexamination Notice for Chinese patent application No. 201480029767.5; dated May 5, 2019. |
Amended claims for the Response to Reexamination Notice for Chinese patent application No. 201480029767.5; dated May 5, 2019. |
Rejection to Reexamination Request for Chinese patent application No. 201480029767.5; dated Aug. 23, 2019. |
Partial Search Report for European patent application No. EP 14 78 8063; dated Feb. 14, 2017. |
Rule 70(2) and 70a(2), Search Report & Search Opinion for European patent application No. EP 14 78 8063; dated Sep. 22, 2017. |
Response to Opinion for European patent application No. EP 14 78 8063; dated Jul. 18, 2018. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20200063427 A1 | Feb 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61816697 | Apr 2013 | US | |
61828165 | May 2013 | US | |
61911594 | Dec 2013 | US | |
61929132 | Jan 2014 | US | |
61828153 | May 2013 | US | |
61928999 | Jan 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 14264037 | Apr 2014 | US |
Child | 16397978 | US |