FR2626916A1 - VACUUM SANITATION PROCESS, VACUUM SANITATION SYSTEM AND TIMER CONTROLLER FOR SUCH A SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

The vacuum sewage transport system of the invention comprises a vacuum pipe (3), connecting an outlet temporary storage tank (1) to an inlet temporary storage tank (2), a main draining valve (6) actuated by a controlling sensor (7) and providing the transport of the waste products by introducing air at atmospheric pressure into the vacuum pipe (3). It comprises at least one secondary draining valve (9) whose opening is actuated at constant intervals of time by a delay controlling device (10) functioning without supply of energy other than that available in the vacuum pipe (3). The delay controlling device is intended for opening a secondary draining valve (9) of a vacuum sewage transport system characterised in that its source of energy is constituted by the reduced pressure existing in the vacuum pipe (3) and in that it provides this opening at constant time intervals.

Description

PROCESS FOR VACUUM CLEANING. VACUUM SANITIZING SYSTEM

  AND TEWPORISER CONTROLLER FOR THIS SYSTEM

  The present invention relates to a vacuum sanitation system.

  Such systems are intended to transport intermittently

  a quantity of waste inside a vacuum pipe.

  They are described for example in American documents US 4 171 853, US 4 179 371, US 4 373 838. These active sanitation systems are now well known and have proven themselves, they make it possible to transport waste from from one point to another without requiring the slope required by passive systems operating

only by gravity.

  They are generally made up of a pipe maintained at a low pressure and generally called vacuum canalipation. This pipeline connects a temporary storage tank to either a

  evacuation device or to another temporary storage tank.

  The vacuum pipe is connected to the lower part of the temporary supply tank and to the upper part of the supply tank. To simplify the presentation and without this constituting a limitation, we will consider a pipe connecting two temporary storage tanks. However, it is easily understood that the arrival tank can either be a storage tank regularly emptied so as to ensure final disposal of the waste or the attachment of the disposal system concerned to another system.

  eg more traditional evacuation operated by gravity.

  The vacuum source is located downstream of the assembly studied. In a known manner, the vacuum pipe comprises in the vicinity of the temporary initial storage tank a drain valve known as the main drain valve allowing when the temporary initial storage tank is partially filled to introduce a quantity of air determined at the atmospheric pressure inside the pipeline, thus causing the suction of a determined quantity of waste and its transfer to the reservoir of

temporary storage on arrival.

  Air intake through the main drain valve is controlled

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  when the accumulation of waste in the initial provisional storage tank reaches a certain level. This level is identified using a pressure detector which acts on a sensor controller

  controlling the opening of the main drain valve.

  We understand that in this way it is possible to transport a quantity of waste. determined over a certain distance without it being necessary for the arrival point to be at a height less than the departure point. This system works even when the end point

  is higher than the starting point.

  We also understand that such a system has limits both on the difference in height between the point of arrival and the point of departure and between the distance likely to be traveled between two

  temporary storage tanks.

  It is also understood that such a temporary storage tank constitutes a relatively implantation. important and that in order to reduce the cost of setting up a system seeks to reduce the number. It is the object of the present invention to provide a sanitation process, the system necessary for its implementation and the timer controller allowing greater spacing of the temporary storage tanks than that authorized by the systems.

known from the prior art.

  To this end, the vacuum sanitation process of the invention is

  of the type in which the transport of a given quantity is produced,

  waste in a pipe-under reduced pressure from a first temporary storage tank to a second temporary tank or evacuation device by the introduction of air at atmospheric pressure in the vicinity of the first tank when this

  first tank is filled to a given level.

  According to the invention, air At atmospheric pressure is also introduced at least at a point distant from the first reservoir at

constant time intervals.

  The invention also relates to a vacuum sanitation system intended to intermittently transport a determined quantity of waste of the type comprising a vacuum pipe connecting a first temporary storage tank to a second temporary storage tank or to a device for 'evacuation, a main drain valve controlled by a controller sensor and ensuring by introducing air into the vacuum pipe the transport of waste. According to the invention, in order to facilitate the operation of the system between a first temporary storage tank and a second remote temporary storage tank comprises At distances approximately equally distributed between the tanks at least one secondary drain valve whose opening is controlled at fixed time intervals by a timer controller operating with no other energy input than that available in the pipeline

under vacuum.

  The timer controller intended to produce the opening of the secondary drain valve of the sanitation system is also part of the invention. It controls a pressure variation in the

  head of the drain valve allowing the opening of the latter.

  Its energy source is constituted by the vacuum existing in the vacuum pipe and it ensures the opening At an interval of

  constant time of the secondary drain valve.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows.

  follow made with reference to the figures in which: Figure 1 represents a diagram of the whole system

sanitation according to the invention.

  Figure 2 shows the timer controller in its corresponding state & a time when the valve is closed just before

the opening of it.

  Figure 3 shows the timer controller in its state

  causing the valve to open.

  * Figure 4 shows the timer controller in its state

  just after closing the valve.

  In FIGS. 2, 3, 4 the zones at atmospheric pressure are filled with crosses, the zones at pressure of the pipeline are filled with dots and the zones at intermediate pressure are hatched. The vacuum sanitation process of the invention allows the transport of a given quantity of waste from a first temporary storage tank 1 to a second temporary storage tank 2. Ce. transport is obtained by the introduction of a quantity of air determined at atmospheric pressure in the vicinity of the first storage tank in the vacuum-3 pipe connecting the first temporary storage tank to the second. The introduction of air at atmospheric pressure is triggered when the level of waste inside the first Provisional tank 1 to

  reaches a level chosen in advance.

  According to the method of the invention, a predetermined quantity of air is also introduced at atmospheric pressure inside the pipeline at a substantially equal distance from the two temporary storage tanks. This introduction of air is carried out at constant determined time intervals. experience has shown that this introduction of complementary air allows the transport of waste over a significantly greater distance when the other

  conditions are kept constant and with better reliability.

  The introduction of this new process phase can be carried out with relatively minimal adjustments to the entire installation and therefore for entirely satisfactory economic conditions. Preferably, the introduction of air A at atmospheric pressure in a point distant from the tank is obtained exclusively from the energy taken from the pipeline. This autonomous operation of the system allows a particularly simple installation and requires no input of external energy such as for example electrical energy or-

  additional water supply.

  It is an important contribution of the invention to have shown that by the addition of an undemanding phase the quality of the results obtained by the vacuum sanitation process could be

significantly improved.

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  In some cases it is advantageous to provide for the introduction of air at several points between two temporary storage tanks. These points are then distributed at approximately equal distances

between the tanks.

  The invention also relates to the vacuum sanitation system allowing the implementation of the method described above. This sanitation system is therefore intended to intermittently transport a determined quantity of waste. It is of the type comprising a first temporary storage tank 1 connected to a second temporary storage tank 2 by a vacuum pipe 3. The first temporary storage tank is supplied by an inlet pipe 4. The temporary storage tank

  inlet 2 leads to an outlet pipe 5.

  In known manner, a drain valve 6 is connected to the vacuum pipe 3. This drain valve is controlled by the controller 7 which is itself actuated by the pressure sensor 8

  placed inside the first temporary storage tank.

  Thus, when the level of waste in the storage tank Oe.

  start 1 reaches a previously fixed threshold the pressure sensor 8 generates the action of the controller 7 which controls the opening of the valve 6 for a fixed duration. Thus, a determined volume of air at atmospheric pressure is introduced into the vacuum pipe 3 causing a corresponding determined volume of waste from the initial temporary storage tank 1 to the storage tank.

provisional arrival 2.

  The vacuum pipe 3 is further provided with a secondary drain valve 9, the opening of which is controlled by a timer controller 10. The valves 6 and 9 are of the same type but whereas, as we have seen, opening of the valve 6 is controlled by the pressure sensor 8 as a function of the level of waste in the initial temporary storage tank 1, the opening of the valve 9 is controlled at regular time intervals by the controller

timer 10.

  The operation of the secondary valve 9, timer controller 10 assembly is autonomous, which means that it requires no

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  external energy supply its only source of energy being the vacuum existing in the vacuum pipe 3. It is therefore the use of the pressure difference existing between the atmosphere and the pipe 3 which ensures the operation of the controller

timer 10.

  The timer controller 10 includes an adjustable timing device during installation of the system. Indeed, the duration of the time interval separating two opening cycles of the valve 9, as well as the amount of air at atmospheric pressure introduced into each of these cycles in the vacuum pipe 3 depends on the 'all the parameters of the sanitation system-, It depends in particular on the distance between the two temporary storage tanks., 2 and their difference in height. This xregulation is therefore carried out when the installation is started up by an action on the flow limiter 24, the drain valves 6 and 9 are

  well known and do not in themselves form part of the invention.

  They comprise a membrane separating two chambers, one maintained at atmospheric pressure and the other, called the valve head, which can alternatively be brought to atmospheric pressure or to the pressure of the vacuum pipe. When a pressure difference between

  these two chambers are produced, the membrane separating them deforms.

  It is integral with an axis controlling a valve which when

  released from its seat causes the introduction of atmospheric air to-

  inside the vacuum pipe 3. A return spring applying the valve to its seat in the rest position ensures the stability of the system and its only tripping when a difference

  relatively large pressure exists between the two chambers.

  The controller 7 controlling the opening of the main drain valve 6 as a function of the pressure existing in the initial provisional storage tank 1 is also known. It is represented by the assembly 34-in Figures 2,3,4. It comprises a first connector i1 connected to the head of the main valve, a second connector 12 connected to the atmosphere and a third connector 13 connected to the vacuum pipe 3. The double-sided valve 14 allows the connector il to be placed in communication alternately. with fitting '12 or fitting 13 thus allowing the valve head to pass to the

  atmospheric pressure at the pressure of the vacuum pipe 3.

  The double-sided valve 14 is controlled by a piston by the membrane 16 which separates a first chamber A. from a second chamber B. Chamber A is connected to the connector 13 via an orifice calibrated adjustable by a screw of the POINTEAU screw type 17 the chamber B is directly connected to this same connection 13. The chamber A is capable, in the case not shown of the controller 7, of communicating with the atmosphere through the orifice 18 of which the opening is obtained by moving the lever 19. The action of the lever 19 is controlled by the pressure sensor 8 placed in the tank

temporary departure 1.

  The operation of the controller is as follows: when the pressure in the temporary provisional storage tank reaches the predetermined threshold fixed, the tilting of the lever 19 causes the orifice 18 to be released and therefore the chamber A to be brought to atmospheric pressure. This setting to atmospheric pressure causes a deformation of the membrane 16 which causes by the action of the double-sided valve 14 the communication of the radcord It connected to the valve head with the connector 13 connected to the vacuum pipe 3. Thus the pressure in the valve head decreases leading to the opening of the valve of the main valve and therefore the introduction of air at atmospheric pressure into the vacuum pipe 3. The waste is then entrained and the level in the storage tank provisional departure decreases resulting in pressure decrease

  detected by the detector 8 and therefore the closing of the orifice 18.

  Thus, after a certain time determined by the adjustment of the calibrated orifice 17, the chamber A returns to a pressure identical to that of the chamber B. The double-sided valve 14 then again ensures the connection of the connector 12 and the connector 11 that is to say that the chamber of the valve head is again brought to atmospheric pressure causing the closing of the valve of the main valve. It is understood that thus the amount of air at atmospheric pressure introduced into the vacuum pipe 3 depends on the time during which the valve of the main valve has remained open, that is to say the time which was necessary to put chamber A at the same pressure as chamber B. The volume of air at atmospheric pressure introduced into the vacuum pipe 3 therefore ultimately depends on the

adjustment of the calibrated orifice 18.

  The timer controller 10 of the invention is intended to produce the opening of a secondary drain valve 9 by controlling the pressure variation in the head of the drain valve. The source is constituted by the depression. Existing in the vacuum pipe 3 and it ensures the opening at constant time interval of the secondary valve 9. This timer controller implements a set called controller 34 of a type similar to that set work for controlling the opening of the main valve 6. This assembly is constituted by chambers A and B, the membrane 16 which separates them, the piston 15 and the double-sided valve 14 which ensures the communication of the connector 11 either with fitting 12, i.e. with fitting 13, of

lever 19 and port 18.

  Unlike the sensor controller, the control of this timer controller is not obtained from a pressure sensor such as for example the sensor 8 used for controlling the main valve but from a timing system. It is an important element of the invention to have provided a pneumatic time delay system, the energy supply of which can be obtained exclusively from the vacuum contained in the main vacuum pipe 3. To this end, the timer controller 10 of the invention comprises an axis 20, the movement of which causes the lever 19 to tilt, releasing or obstructing the orifice 18. This axis 20 is integral with a membrane 25 separating two chambers C and D. The chamber C is maintained f atmospheric pressure, chamber D being alternately brought to. atmospheric pressure then connected to the vacuum pipe 3 by means of a flow limiter 24 adjustable using the

liaison 38.

  The atmospheric pressure of the chamber D is obtained by the action of the valve 21.11 can connect the chamber D 'with the atmosphere by the pipe 35. It is itself controlled by an axis 22 integral with a membrane flexible 23 separating two chambers E and C. your chamber C being in direct communication with the outside via the channel 36 is maintained at atmospheric pressure. Chamber E - being connected to connection l of the timer controller, via line 37 at the valve head. The pressure inside this chamber E therefore varies in the same way as that inside the valve head between atmospheric pressure and vacuum pressure

  present in the vacuum pipe 3.

  The operation of the timer controller is therefore as follows: starting from the situation in which the main valve has just closed as shown in FIG. 2, the pressure in the main valve head is atmospheric pressure which is therefore also found in the chamber E. The pressure is therefore the same in the 'chambers E and C, the valve 21 closes the communication between the atmosphere (via the connector 35) and the chamber D'. By means of the adjustable flow limiter 24 the chamber D is therefore in connection with the vacuum pipe 3 and, starting from atmospheric pressure, its pressure decreases. When its pressure is sufficiently low, the membrane 25 separating the chambers D and C is deformed, causing the movement of the axis 20 and therefore the tilting of the lever 19 which, as we have seen above, causes the operation of the controller 34 and therefore a pressure drop in the valve head and then the opening of the main valve. The pressure in the chamber E in connection with the valve head therefore decreases causing the

  deformation of the membrane 23, the movement of the axis 22 and therefore by.

  action of the valve 21 bringing the chamber D into communication with the

  atmospheric pressure and therefore the reverse movement of axis 20 and.

  lever 19 therefore closing the orifice 18 thus bringing the controller 34 back to its initial position which causes the closing

of the secondary valve 9.

  This operation produces, as we have seen during the explanation of the operation of the controller 34, an opening of the valve for a time determined by the adjustment of the calibrated orifice 18. This cycle occurs & each time the pressure in room D initially at

  the atmospheric pressure drops below a predetermined threshold.

  The time required to obtain these conditions depends on the setting of the flow limiter 24 and the volume of the chamber D ′. In order to increase this volume, it is preferably put in

  communication with a tank 26.

  The realization of the timer controller implements a number of constructive measures described below: We have seen that it has three axes 15, 20, 22 whose movement is controlled by a deformable membrane 16,23,25 separating two chambers whose relative pressures vary. These axes are fixed to the membranes by means of two metal washers (such as 27a and 27b for the menbrane 23) enclosing these, the assembly being traversed by a screw fixed to the same axes. In order to ensure stable operation of these axes they are brought back into equilibrium position by a spring (such as 29), the calibration of this spring makes it possible to determine the pressure difference from which the movement of the axis is obtained. The diaphragms are fixed by wedging between the elements of the body of the timer co-controller (such as 30, 31). All of these elements are secured by bolted threaded rods 32, 33. The connections provided between the different chambers or fittings can be obtained depending on the case and without these arrangements presenting particular difficulties for the skilled person either by external connections to the body of the timer controller possibly flexible connections either by

  pipes provided inside the body itself.

Claims (10)

REVENDICA T IOaNS   1) Vacuum sanitation method of the type in which the transport of a quantity is produced the transport of a predetermined quantity of waste in a pipe under reduced pressure from a temporary provisional storage tank to a tank of ' arrival storage by the introduction of air at atmospheric pressure into the pipeline in the vicinity of the provisional departure storage tank when this departure tank is filled at a given level characterized in that air at pressure atmospheric is also introduced at least at a point distant from the starting reservoir, for example at a point approximately equally distant from the starting reservoir and the arrival reservoir, constant time intervals.   2) Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the means used for the introduction of air at atmospheric pressure at a point distant from the starting tank operating exclusively with the energy taken from the pipe 3) System d vacuum cleaning intended to intermittently transport a determined quantity of waste of the type comprising a vacuum pipe (3) connecting a provisional initial storage tank (1) & a provisional incoming storage tank (2) a valve main drain (6) controlled by a sensor sensor (7) and ensuring the transport of waste by the introduction of air & atmospheric pressure in the vacuum pipe (3) characterized in that, it comprises at least one valve secondary drain (9) whose opening is controlled at constant time intervals by a timer controller (10) operating without any other energy input than that available in the vacuum pipe (3>.   4) vacuum sanitation system according to claim 3 characterized in that the secondary drain valve (s) (9) are remote from the flow tank (1) for example i distances   equally distributed between this tank and the arrival tank (2}.   t626916) Vacuum sanitation system according to any one of   claims 3 and 4 characterized in that the controller   timer (10) includes a time delay device adjustable during installation of the system depending, among other things, on the distance between the temporary tock tank and the component   the slope of the system.   6) Timer controller intended to produce the opening of a secondary drain valve (9) of a vacuum sanitation system characterized in that its energy source consists of the vacuum existing in the vacuum pipe ( 3) and that it ensures   this opening at constant time intervals. -   7) Timer controller according to claim 6 characterized in that it comprises a controller (34) controlling the connection of the secondary drain valve head (e) with the atmosphere during the tilting of a lever (18) provided with a return spring, the tilting of this lever (1i8) being produced by the displacement of an axis (20) integral with a membrane (25) separating a chamber '(C) maintained at atmospheric pressure of a chamber (D) to be filled with air at atmospheric pressure and then connected to the vacuum pipe (3) until it causes the movement of the axis (20).   8) Timer controller according to claim 7 characterized in that the chamber (D) is brought to atmospheric pressure when the pressure in the head of the secondary drain valve (9) is at a pressure lower than an efference pressure producing the action of the secondary drain valve (9).   9) Timer controller according to claim 8 characterized in that the setting at atmospheric pressure of the chamber (D) is obtained by the opening of a valve (21) controlled by a membrane (22) between a chamber (C ) maintained at atmospheric pressure   and a chamber (E) in connection with the valve head.   ) Timer controller according to any one of claims   6 to 9 characterized in that the chamber (D) is connected to an air capacity (26).   11) Timer controller according to any one of claims   6 a 10 characterized in that the connection established between the vacuum pipe (3) and the chamber (D) comprises an adjustable flow limiter (24) allowing the adjustment of the time interval separating two   opening cycles of the secondary drain valve (9).   12) Timer controller according to any one of claims   6 to 11l characterized in that the controller comprises means of-   adjustment (17) of the opening time of the secondary drain valve (9).   13) Timer controller according to any one of claims   6 to 12 characterized in that it comprises a body made up of independent elements (30, 31) interconnected compressed and crossed by   bolted threaded rods (32, 33).