Patent Application
20080060121
Reference is now made to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.
As used herein, the terms “hygienic apparatus”, “hygienic unit”, and “hygienic system” refer without limitation to any device that can dispose, process, treat, eliminate, divert, reduce, and/or pulverize liquid, gas, or solid waste including without limitation toilets, urinals and bidets.
The terms “velocity enhancing unit” and “velocity enhancing apparatus” refer to without limitation to any structure, tubing, tubular winding, inclined tubular and/or hollow liquid and/or solid carrying structure, spiral tubing, or the like that can increase velocity, enhance transfer properties, and decrease solid and/or liquid transit time.
Furthermore, the terms “low flow” refer to without limitation to any system that reduces, minimizes, or the like the requirement for inlet liquid, e.g., fresh water, recycled water.
The terms “containment chamber” refers to without limitation any chamber, vessel, container, package, hollow structure, bottle, flask, or the like that collects, stores, and transports solids or liquids into or out of a hygienic apparatus.
Finally, the terms “at least one shaped portion” refers to without limitation a section of a containment chamber that collects liquids or solids for transport or movement to an outlet port of the hygienic apparatus.
In one salient aspect, the present invention discloses an apparatus and method of producing a hygienic system, inter alia, that economizes water usage compared with previously hygienic systems. In particular, the hygienic system disclosed includes a containment chamber having an input portion and an output portion. The containment chamber configured to move liquids and solids between an inlet port and an outlet port. The containment chamber, in one exemplary embodiment, is configured to fill to a prescribed volume level. At least one shaped portion of the containment chamber prevents backflow of odor associated with the liquids and solids.
A first nozzle is disposed in the containment chamber and configured to break-up the solids using a prescribed pressure level to propel the liquids and the solids from the first port through the second port of the containment chamber. A velocity-increasing structure is disposed between the outlet port and an exit port of the containment chamber. The velocity-increasing structure provides an effective increase in the velocity of the liquids and solids.
Consequently, the present invention may be used to move or transport liquids and/or solids for a multitude of applications, such as for example for sewage treatment plants, nuclear waste plants, chemical treatment plant and other like liquid and solid treatment applications.
Broadly, the present invention generally provides an apparatus and method for providing improvements in efficiency and water usage for liquid and solid treatment applications. The system of the present invention may find beneficial use for providing an improved system for transporting and moving solid and liquids from a circuit board assembly and/or testing area to realize an increased circuit throughput from assembly to final product stage. In yet another example, this invention would aid in a manufacturing plant that produces, packages, and ships furniture. For instance, during the production of office furniture parts, wastes products including both solids and liquids are produced. While removing these waste products, economization of water would reduce subsequent waste removal products and reduce overall disposal costs.
In yet another exemplary application, the system may prove useful for transporting liquids and solid masses that are deposited in a storm drain or other undesired location. More specifically, the system may be part of a liquid and solid waste recovery system that collects liquids and solids and/or provides these liquids and solids in a more compressed form to reduce packaging required for hauling away.
Furthermore, the same system may prove useful in a hospital and/or nursing home setting whereby liquids or solids, e.g., blood, IV apparatus, urine, solid matter, and the like, are needed to be either distributed and/or collected from each hospital recovery room and either transported or packaged for disposed in a centralized area. Consequently, an operator using this system may have the ability to track movement of liquids and/or solids on an individual basis, collectively, or sort and process separately liquid and/or solids. In addition, the system is adaptable to utilize recycled water and/or liquids so as to conserve water usage either on an individual basis or collectively if more than one of these systems are installed in a multi-room unit, for example, an apartment building, a condo, a home, or the like.
In addition, the invention is described as an automatic flush toilet using a containment chamber having at least one shaped portion that provides a holding chamber to collect the liquids and solids. Furthermore, the principles and methods of this invention may further be applied just as readily to other technologies, products, and devices, such as non-automatic hygienic systems, blood centrifuge or distribution systems, chemical treatment facilities, and water and sewage recovery facilities for dams, lakes, rivers, streams, and the like.
Referring now to
Referring to
The containment chamber 20 is a shaped portion providing a barrier from odor that may be emitted from the solids and liquids and/or the outlet port 29. In one embodiment, the containment chamber 20 couples to one end of a velocity increasing apparatus 32, e.g., a winding pipe (see
Referring to
In one alternative embodiment, the nozzle 24 may be replaced by a main nozzle 24b and a secondary nozzle 24b where either one or the other may be used for different purposes, such as one could be for applying soap and the other providing rinse water.
In contrast to standard or low flow toilets, the nozzle 24 proximal to the containment chamber 20, which has a shaped portion for the solids and liquids, together provides an improved hygienic system that breaks-up, prevents splashing during breaking-up process, and moves both solid and liquid particles with a minimal of toilet clogging. An advantage of this hygienic apparatus as compared to prior art toilets which utilize one and a half (low-flow) to three gallons (standard flow) of water, is that the nozzle 24 with the aid of the pump 10 dispenses approximately one sixteen to one eighth of a gallon of water, thereby greatly conserving water.
Hence, the exemplary embodiment of the invention utilizes approximately 1/16 to ⅛ of a gallon of water, which is a large water savings as compared to other conventional toilets. Furthermore, the exemplary embodiment of the invention provides better cleaning because the toilet interior, such as inner surface 28a, being pre-wet prevents build and stains on the toilet sidewalls and to reduce the fluid requirement, when the toilet seat closes, necessary for removing any incidental solid or liquid build-up. Furthermore, in contrast to conventional standard toilets, this hygienic apparatus requires no rubber or other seal. Thus, this system does not depend on the integrity of any seal to prevent fluid leakage.
Afterwards, the high-pressure spray moves both the solids and liquids from the containment chamber 20 to the velocity increasing apparatus 32. The velocity increasing apparatus 32 includes an incline ramp 32a. The incline ramp 32a increases a velocity potential of the solids and the liquids entering the apparatus 32. After the incline ramp 32a, in this example, a winding series of pipes 32b from a portion of the incline ramp 32a to an outlet port 29. In one embodiment, the winding pipes 32b are one-half inch diameter PCV pipe, although it will be apparent that any number of other materials may be used instead or in conjunction with the PVC.
In one preferred embodiment, the winding pipes 32b are selected from a range of approximately one-quarter to one-half inch diameter pipe. The pipe may be manufactured of a rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible single or composite material. The winding pipes 32b in combination with the flowing liquids and solids form a vacuum that increases a velocity of the solids and liquids. This increase in velocity and selection of pipe diameter takes advantage of the molecular attractive properties of solids and liquids to realize an increase suction device. Thus, this structure reduces the need for additional water, such as those required by gravity-powered toilets to push the solids and liquids toward the outlet port 29. The winding pipes 32b in combination with the flowing liquids and solids form a vacuum that increases a velocity of the solids and liquids. Thus, this structure reduces the need for additional water, such as that required by gravity-powered toilets to push the solids and liquids toward the outlet port 29.
Moreover, other sensing apparatus (such as infra-red or ultrasonic motion or position sensors of the type well known in the electronic arts) may be used to enable, or disable certain components, and/or activate or terminate certain operations.
In the illustrated embodiment, upon opening the toilet lid, e.g., switch 40 (S1) closes, and sends an electrical signal to a module 46. The module 46, in this example, is an electronic switch array, which could be part of a central processing unit (not shown), that activates or deactivates the pump 10. In an alternative embodiment, the module 46 may be a mechanical array that directs which sprayer(s) or nozzle to activate.
For instance, the module 46 may deactivate the pump 10 selected times of a day. For example, the pump 10 may be deactivated in the evening hours, during sleep time, or when no one his home to conserve energy and minimize any noise originating from the pump. Furthermore, the module 46 activates or deactivates valves 50a-e (V1-V5). The valves 50a-e may have a valve member, e.g., that opens and closes, for selectively pumping fluid originating from the pump 10 to a location within, on, or outside of the hygienic apparatus.
For example, if switch 40 (S1) closes, control module 46 activates value 50a (V1) to transport fluid to jets 26h-k. The jets 26h-k spray fluid from the toilet rim onto an interior surface of the toilet bowl 28. The spray fluid for the jets 26h-k may originate from water from the city line 57, recycled water 49, and recycled water from a tank 55. In an alternative embodiment, the recycled water from a tank 55 may come from other water usages, such as shower water, bathroom sink, laundry room basin, storm drain, home gutter, or the like. Thus, water may be utilized from other activities, e.g., recycled, near or from devices connected to the hygienic apparatus 4. As compared to conventional hygienic systems, such as the standard toilet, this system has the advantage of saving water not only by economizing usage by having a “low flow” design, but also by reusing previous used water for the purpose of toilet flushing or rinsing.
In addition, because the hygienic apparatus 4 in this example flushes upon being closed, cleanliness will be improved because during a flush, the toilet lid or cover 5 will prevent backsplash from solids and liquids becoming airborne and landing on individuals or the adjacent environment.
Finally, because nozzle 24 and jets 26h-26k may be independently controlled, e.g., activated or deactivated, additional water savings results because the jets 26h-26k may be activated only when necessary, e.g., depending on the solid and the liquid deposited, as compared to conventional standard toilet having the same flush independent of the solid and the liquid deposited.
In contrast to conventional toilet systems, the pressure for jets 26h-26k, in one embodiment, may be of a medium pressure, e.g., 50 to 400 p.s.i., as compared to nozzle 24 at a high pressure, e.g., 500 to 2500 p.s.i.; thus, a more controllable and less back spraying flush may be realized.
Furthermore, cleaning enzymes or other substances may be added to the recycled water tank so that the hygienic apparatus may be utilized to clean the toilet 28.
In yet another embodiment, valve 50c (V2) is opened so that handheld nozzle 52 may be utilized. For instance, handheld nozzle 52 may be used to clean other surfaces or structures, such as shower door, shower wall, bathtub, sink, floor, and the like. After the solid and the liquid are deposited in the containment chamber 20 (see
a and 7B illustrate respectively a front view and a sectional view respectively of a hygienic apparatus 4′ in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
In this embodiment, the velocity enhancing apparatus 32 (shown in
In yet another alternative embodiment, an external pipe, for example a plastic rigid or flexible pipe, may replace the toilet section that includes the pipes 70a, 70b, and 70c. The external pipe has a preferred diameter selected from the range of approximately ¼ to ½ inch. The external pipe, in one preferred embodiment, has one portion that extends into the outlet port 29, similar to the pipe 70c. The extension of the external pipe is, in one preferred embodiment, between one foot to 5 feet. Furthermore, the external pipe also has a curved portion, e.g., a winding portion, afterwards partially straightens to mate with an output portion 21 of the containment chamber 20. The external pipe may be detachable so that clogs may be easily removed and afterwards the external pipe then reattached. The external pipe diameter of ¼ to ½ of an inch is chosen increase solid and liquid suction so that the broken-up solid masses and liquids may readily transport to the outlet port 29. The suction increase results in part due to the molecular attraction of liquid and solid particles deposited in the containment chamber 20 (see
In another step, the first nozzle breaks-up the solids (S206). The first nozzle disposed in the containment chamber using a prescribed pressure level to propel the liquids and the solids from the input portion through the output portion of the containment chamber. In yet another step, the method involves increasing an effective velocity of the liquids and the solids utilizing a velocity increasing structure disposed between the output portion of the containment chamber and the outlet port (S208).
In one variation of this method, the containment chamber may further comprise a channel that increases in width from an input channel portion to an output channel portion, the output channel portion emptying into the at least one shaped portion.
In another embodiment of the present method, the channel is used to provide beadings of the inlet liquid to moisten the channel and prevent attachment of the liquids and the solids.
In still another embodiment, the velocity increasing structure may comprise an at least partially hollow structure having at one end an incline ramp, such as incline ramp 32a (shown in
It is noted that many variations of the methods described above may be utilized consistent with the present invention. Specifically, certain steps are optional and may be performed or deleted as desired. Similarly, other steps (such as additional water or fluid processing, filtration, chemical treatment, sampling/analysis, etc.) may be added to the foregoing embodiments. Additionally, the order of performance of certain steps may be permuted, or performed in parallel (or series) if desired. Hence, the foregoing embodiments are merely illustrative of the broader methods of the invention disclosed herein.
While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointed out novel features of the invention as applied to various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the device or process illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. The foregoing description is of the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention. This description is in no way meant to be limiting, but rather should be taken as illustrative of the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.
