US3536196A - Waste treatment and storage system - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors Jack D. Zelf Deerlleld; George C. Roberts, Evanston, Illinois 21 Appl. NO. 761,731 [22] Filed Sept. 23, 1968 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 692,062, Dec. 20, 1967, now pending. This application Sept. 23, 1968, Ser. No. 761,731 [45] Patented Oct. 27, 1970 [73] Assignee General American Transportation Corporation a corporation of New York [54] WASTE TREATMENT AND STORAGE SYSTEM 49 Claims, 24 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. C1 210/97, 4/ 10 [51] Int. Cl B03d 3/00 [50] Field of Search 4/10, 90, l 15. 131; 210/97 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,303,358 5/1919 Montgomery 4/10X 2,798,227 7/1957 Boester 4/10 2,798,228 7/1957 Boester 4/10 2,858,939 11/1958 Corliss 4/90X 3,070,433 12/1962 Dietz et al.. 4/131X 3,169,497 2/1965 Blankenship 4/115 3,172,131 3/1965 Herkenhine et al. 4/10 3,320,621 5/1967 Vita 1. 4/10 Primary Examiner- Laverne D. Geiger Assistant Examiner- Robert 1. Smith Attorney-Claron N. White ABSTRACTzgA system, that receives and treats waste from and preferably furnishes flushing liquid to a toilet, includes a temporary holding tank to receive the waste from a toilet, a volume-reductive storage tank, a conduit between these tanks to transfer waste from the holding tank to the storage tank, valve means to close the conduit, heater means to evaporate at least part of the waste in the storage tank, and one or more of: an automatic system including an operation of the valve means; a movable spout in the holding tank communicating with an opening in the top wall to communicate with a bottom outlet of a toilet; an automatic metering system, along with an automatic accumulator or supply system that includes a novel replaceable canister to replenish the metering system, for periodic automatic introduction of a novel disinfectant concentrate composition, preferably containing a dye, into the holding tank upon completion of automatic waste transfer through the conduit, so as to have in the holding tank, during toilet use and regardless of the number of toilet uses between operations, an adequate concentration of disinfectant and preferably, also, of dye; a special configuration of the upper surface of the bottom wall of the holding tank; location and construction of the conduit and the valve means'to insure a minimum liquid level for a pump in the holding tank after automatic waste transfer; and an override of the automatic waste transfer system to rinse the holding tank with complete drainage or to service both tanks with complete drainage.

Sheet 4 017 Patentd Oct. 27, 1970 Sheet 7 of! WASTE TREATMENT AND STORAGE SYSTEM CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of our U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 692,062, entitled Toilet and Waste Storage System" filed on Dec. 20, 1967.

BACKGROUND OF THE lNVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a system or apparatus and to a method for receiving human body wastes and periodically transferring part of the waste for treatment to remove at least part of the liquid content and preferably retaining part of the liquid for use as a flushing liquid for a toilet.

2. Description of the Prior Art ln various vehicles, such as airplanes, .buses, boats and trains, and sites lacking conventional sewage treatment systems there has existed a need for the storage and disposal of wastes received from toilets.

As described in our copending patent application mentioned above, under the conditions where a water supply is very limited it has been proposed to use a waterless toilet. An illustrative system in the incinerator toilet described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,169,497. The human wastes are transferred from a toilet bowl to an incinerator chamber in which the waste is converted to ash. The volatile material is removed from the incinerator chamber by a blower. None of the aqueous content of the human waste is utilized.

Several developments have produced systems that are referred to as self-contained sewage or toilet systems. These systems have a flush toilet bowl mounted on a tank that contains at the start of service of the system, an aqueous solution suitable for flushing the toilet. The aqueous solution also contains chemicals to provide a deodorization of waste material received in the tank from the toilet. During service use the volume of liquid in the tank increases. Eventually, the amount of liquid in the tank precludes any further use of the system until it has been serviced. ln this system there is provided a combination of a filter and a pump by which the mixture of waste liquid and initial water in the tank is drawn to the filter which permits the passage of filtrate to the inlet of the pump. Flushing liquid in the form of this filtrate is fed to the toilet bowl by the outlet of the pump. Such systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,067,433 and 3,343,178. Another patent (U.S.

Pat. No. 3,172,131) describes and claims a specific improvement that is especially useful with the system of U.S. Pat. No. 3,067,433. U.S. Pat. No. 3,067,433 states that a self-cleaning filter of known construction can be used. An alleged improved filter is disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,342,341 which also discloses the entire self-contained sewage system.

The systems described in the next preceding paragraph utilize a relatively deep tank and provide an initial charge of aqueous liquid in an amount to occupy less than one-half of the volumetric capacity of the tank, i.e., the capacity beyond which the system should not be used until serviced. In each of such systems the distance from the top of the tank to the top of the initial charge of aqueous liquid is required to be substantial so as to permit the use of the system for a considerable number of times before the system requires servicing. For this reason the outlet of the toilet bowl is required to be at the topmost portion of the tank and for a number of other reasons this outlet is required to extend laterally within this topmost portion of the tank.

A previous system is exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 2,858,939 in which the waste liquid from the toilet is ground and filtered. The filtrate is transferred to another tank for later use in a flushing operation. The filter transfers the solids to a tank below the filter.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,079,612 there is disclosed and claimed a tank receiving human body waste from two toilets and a double drive filter and pump that selectively provides flushing liquid to one or the other toilet.

2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a system capable of receiving of human body wastes, transferring and treating part of the wastes, and utilizing another part of the human body wastes as a flowing liquid for and to a toilet. The apparatus of the invention reduces substantially the volume of waste that is received in one tank and transferred to a second tank from which part of the material of the waste is disposed in a form that avoids substantially atmospheric pollution. Because of the apparatus, there is a decrease in the gross weight of an occupied vehicle, such as an airplane, during the multiple operation of the apparatus in a flight. Furthermore, the apparatus of the present invention increases the number of times that the toilet can be used before it becomes necessary to provide a service operation that completely removes human waste received by the apparatus. Other advantages, especially those for specific combinutions that are embodiments of the apparatus. will be men tioned later.

The apparatus of this invention comprises a temporary holding tank, a volume-reductive storage tank. a conduit communicating these tanks with each other for transfer of flowable material from the holding tank to the storage tank, means to close the conduit, and heater means to heat the storage tank for removal of at least volatile material in the human waste in the storage tank.

The holding tank has an opening in its upper portion for communication with the bottom opening of an outlet of a toilet so that the holding tank receives human waste from the toilet. This opening is preferably in the top wall of the holding tank. The holding tank has an outlet in the lower portion and one end of the conduit is connected to that tank to communicate the holding tank with the conduit at that outlet. The storage tank has an inlet opening in the upper portion, preferably in the top wall, and the other end of the conduit communicates with the storage tank via that opening in the storage tank. The storage tank also has an outlet for removal of volatized material from the tank.

In some of the various embodiments of the apparatus of the invention, the apparatus necessarily uses a pump having an inlet in the holding tank to remove liquid from that tank and an outlet to provide the removed liquid to the toilet for the flushing of the latter. In some of these embodiments a filter is present to provide a filtered liquid to the pump. In one of these embodiments the presence of a filter is not absolutely required, although its presence may be desired as a precaution. That embodiment has a holding tank with a top surface that is shaped, as described later, to minimize movement of solids to the pump inlet.

ln one embodiment of the apparatus of the invention the heater means for removing volatile material from the storage tank and thus reducing the volume of waste in the storage tank comprises a heater that has a thermal capacity, sufficient to raise the temperature in the tank to provide a substantial water vapor pressure, and a heater that has a capacity, sufficient to convert waste material in the tank to an incinerated product. Of course, the latter heater can include the heater for removal of water in vapor form. in that case, the heater for the incineration treatment would constitute the evaporative heater and an additional heater. Alternatively, the incinerative heater can be an entirely separate heater.

In this embodiment of the apparatus the normal use of the heater means would be the use only of the evaporative heater. However, under certain conditions the apparatus would utilize the heater that provides for the incineration of material in the storage tank. This change in operation of the heater means from the normal operation of the evaporative heater to the incinerative heater could involve merely the manual switching in electrical circuitry to provide power to the incinerative heater. When the evaporative heater is part of the heater system for the incineration, the evaporative heater would continue to be operative andgthe only difference would be the paratus includes also surface of the plane passing transfer of thermal energy;

operation also of the Supplemental heater to obtain the higher the heater means of r in the storage tank is preferably controlledtoavoid too high atemperature for the tank. When the apparatus is in an.

temperature. In the normal operation 1 of the present apparatus,the temperature airplane in flight, it is preferably used for evaporation onlyof volatilizable material; specifically water, from that tank. T his avoids a fire hazard, namely, the creation of a hot zone within the airplane. The apparatus of this embodiment has one aspect thatincludes a con- .trol to'prevent operation of the incmerative heater when the airplane is moving orhas some other operating condition, so thatthe incinerative heater can operate only when the .air-

plane is on the ground and is safe toprovide such incineration.

in this embodimentwthe heater that waste in the storage tank is mined extent of use until a subsequent transfer of waste is effectuated-frorn the holding tank toy-the storage tank. This con-.

trol system also includes a control-that prevents an operation of the ,heaterduringthe transfer of material from the holding tank to the storage tankin'a partial holding tank and then from the to an external storage or transfer system such as tank truck or pipe line.

This complete servicing of the apparatus can be scheduled to be performedafter a number of flights that exceeds manyfold the number of flights of an airplane that cantb e made before complete servicing isnecessariy-for apparatus presently available. Of course, suchschedulesare based upon the expected maximum number of toilet uses per flight;

provides for the evaporation ofat least part of 'the aqueouscontent of the preferably combined with' a conj-,-

trolthat prevents an operation. of the heater after a predeterl means is movable between such foperative. position to a system that moves the shield froin the holding tank and thus is moved by the controlrsystem I or a complete service it operation.-.The".partial service operation provides 'forthe a transfer of rinseliquid into the I holding tank via theconduit to the storage tank.The complete n service operation also transfers material from the storagetank the former zone.

In another embodiment of theprese nt inventionthe outlet;

of the holding tank is required to be in the sidewall of the holding tank ratherthanmerely in the lower portion of the holding tank. In this embodiment of the apparatus,the lowermost portion of the outlet in'the sidewall is at the plane of the portion of the inner tops urface of the bottom wall'ofthe holding tank 7 adjacent that outlet. For most effective. removal of solids of the human waste received by the holding tank, the portion of the top surface of the bottom wall is preferablythe lowest part of the top surface of that wall in the zone of the tank in which such solidswould be expected to settle to, the bottom wall. In

addition, in thisembodiment of the apparatus the conduit indownwardly and laterally inthe tension is in direction awayfrom the pump inlet. This lateral extension and its direction are important when the bottom before the conduit can be openedas part of a cycle of operation of the means to close the conduit? Also the means to move the shield to the operative position' is operative only by the control that permits the useof the incinerative heater. Y. a

g In a further embodimentof the apparatus of the invention the apparatus includes a scoop that is mounted oh the top wall Preferably the scoop extends upwardly throughthe top opening of the holding tank..The scoop communicates with a botof. the holding tank at the. inlet opening of the latter.

tom outlet of a toilet. Preferably the bottom outlet of a toilet is mounted directlyjabove the holding tank. This scoop extends wall of that tank has .an upper surface configuration that minimizes transfer of solids from the zone of the tank having the outlet of the tank to the zone in'which the pump inlet is located. lnthat case,the outlet of the scope deposits waste in The scoop ofthis embodiment-of the apparatus has two aspects of construction. In both aspects the scoop has a lower portion that is mo'vable relative to an upper portion. The mountingfor this movement of thelower portion includes.

means to bias the two portionstogether to retain a continuous. scoop from-inlet to outlet. ln-one aspect the scoop has two components that are separately pivotally mounted on the upper portion of the scoop. Their mounting means urge these components into abutment with each other -to constitute the lower portion of the scoop which, of course, includes the lateral extension. lni this construction the two be moved away parts of the bottom portion of theiscoop can from each other to permit easy access through the toilet bowl for the purpose of manual searching for an object that has inadvertentlyrdropped into the toilet" and passed through the cl udesia horizontal flexible portion having itslo'wermost inner surface in horizontal alignment with the lowermost portionof the outlet of the, holding tank.'This, embodiment: of the apmeans to raise anintermediate part of this flexible portion was to raise part of that lowermost inner horizontal portion.

partof themeans toclose the conduit soas to stop transfer of 'inaterial'from the'holding tank via the conduit to'the storage tank. a Failure to close completely the horizontal flexible portion of This raisingmeans may be a the conduit will not affect the upward movement of thebota sufficient elevation tom portion of the flexible portion to of flowable material that will preventcomplete transfer through the incompletely closed conduit. When the level of' j flowable material in theholding tankdrop'sto the horizontal through the raised inner surface of bottom wall of .the flexible horizontal portion of the conduitfflow will cease. This construction is important' in the embodiment'inu which it is necessary, to maintain a minimum level of pumpable come the biasing scoop intorthe holding tank. However, his necessary to overeach other'by the they return to their normal butting position defining a lower part of the scoop as soon as the force that separates them has been removed. i

In the second aspect of construction of the scoop of this embodiment of the apparatus, the upper portion and the lower portion are separately mounted on the top wall of the tank. The upper portion preferablyextends upwardly through the 'top wall of the holding tank. The lower portion is mounted on a verticalrod of a support means. The rod is mounted on the f top wall of the holding tank. Thesupport means to mount this lower portion is constructedto permit a downward movement of that portion relative to they can .be verticallyspaced' from each other. The support liquid in the holding tank and that'levelis above the horizontal plane at the lowermost part of the outlet of the holding tank. In another. embodiment of the apparatus of this invention the apparatus includes adjacent its communication with the storage tank to prevent latter is incinerating material in that tank. This shielding 75 means to thermally, shield 'theconduit in the form of high-temperature gases, from the holding ,tankto the storaget'ank when the means also is constructed to permit movement of this downwardly spaced lower. portion about the vertical axis of the .rod. This permits lateral arcuate movement of the main portion of the scoop away frorn the top portion and this is done when it inadvertentlydropped into the toilet; The downward movement of the lower portion of the scoop is opposed by resilient means to move that portion upwards. Thelower portion of the scoop' is the main portion of the scoop. It is preferably one holding tank. The lateral exthe lower portion of force to maintain; the two components spaced vawayfrom each other during this manual search. Because these two components of the bottom portion of the scoop are urged toward mounting means,"

the top portion of the scoop so that is necessary to search'for and retrieve an object.

piece and contains the lateral extension and the main part of the vertical part of the scoop.

In the first aspect, the two components of the lower portion of the scoop pivot about parallel axes but these are not necessarily horizontal. They can be mounted for downward and then lateral arcuate movement about spaced vertical axes as in the case of the second aspect.

In another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention the bottom wall of the holding tank has a top surface that is raised in an intermediate zone of the tank between the zone having the pump inlet in it and the zone having the outlet of the scoop in it and with the outlet in its sidewall. This raised portion extends transversely but has longitudinal grooves in it, preferably, to the depth of the top surface of the bottom wall at opposite sides of the raised portion. These grooves are sufficiently narrow to decrease substantially and preferably to prevent the movement of solid and semisolid objects from the zone with the spout in it to the other zone having the pump inlet in it.

In a further embodiment of the apparatus of this invention, the system includes a disinfectant metering device that provides automatically a controlled amount of colored disinfectant composition, which is a liquid concentrate, to the holding tank each time there is a cycle of operation for a transfer of waste material from the holding tank to the storage tank. This introduction of disinfectant liquid concentrate is effectuated at the completion of that cycle, which occurs when the conduit is closed to prevent further transfer of waste material in the holding tank below the predetermined minimum level desired by that material for the flushing of a toilet by the pump in that tank. In the preferred aspect of this embodiment the minimum level is accomplished regardless of the complete closing of the conduit by virtue of the construction of the conduit mentioned above, namely, the construction in which the conduit has a horizontal portion that can be raised with respect to its lowermost inner surface to insure retention of liquid in the holding tank. in this embodiment, that uses the automatic metering system, the apparatus includes the pump that is used to pump fluid to the toilet from the holding tank.

In connection with this last embodimentof the apparatus of the present invention, the invention uses an automatic metering system, that includes an accumulator, and a supply system. The supply system includes a canister of supply of colored disinfectant liquid concentrate and means to mount the canister and at the same time to provide an opening in it for communication with the accumulator. The canister is constructed to be self-unloading during metering of liquid concentrate and to provide a visual indication of the extent of concentrate remaining in the canister. This metering system and this canister are also separate but related apparatus of the present invention.

A further embodiment of this invention is the colored disinfectant composition and its use in one embodiment of the method of the invention. The composition is liquid at normal temperatures encountered within the room having the supply system and the metering system including the pipe to the holding tank. The composition is a concentrated aqueous solution of a disinfectant and a compatible dye. The disinfectant is a material that has a suitable antibacterial spectrum as regards bacteria in human waste. It must also retain adequate solubility in the aqueous medium created by the depositing of human waste in water added to the holding tank with a relatively small amount of the disinfectant composition.

Furthermore, the disinfectant must retain adequate solubility, preferably complete solubility, in the aqueous medium when the latter, after transfer to the storage tank is heated to an elevated temperature for the removal of at least part of the water content. Such water removal concentrates the disinfectant in the aqueous medium. Unsatisfactory disinfectants, if not precipitated by materials from human waste in the holding tank, will precipitate in the holding tank due to thermal degradation, the concentration exceeding its solubility, or that of a compound formed with material in the human waste or the water to which the concentrate is added, e.g., the presence of uric acid in the waste and the presence of calcium ions in the water.

in view of the foregoing it is seen that the disinfectant used in this embodiment of the invention has complete solubility in the concentrated composition that is added in a small amount to water in the holding tank, has complete solubility in that water even with the addition of substantial human waste and that hot concentrate from the latter solution upon heatingto an elevated temperature, e.g., the boiling point of the aqueous medium, retains an effective amount of the disinfectant in solution. Preferably all disinfectant remains dissolved. Disinfectants, that meet these requirements, are soluble in water in an effective amount in the holding tank and are sufficiently soluble in a liquid solvent that is miscible with water, to provide a concentrate composition as a solution that contains at least l percent, preferably at least 10 percent, and especially preferably at least 25 percent of the disinfectant compound. These compositions contain a small amount, i.e., less than 5 percent by weight water-soluble dye. The preferred liquid solvent is water. Suitable water-soluble disinfectants include alkali metal salts. Preferred disinfectants are alkali metal salts of N-hydroxy-Lpyridinethiones and alkali metal salts of phenols. The disinfectant of the composition must have a suitable antibacterial spectrum for use against bacteria in human waste to prevent putrefaction while the materials are accumulated in the holding tank and in the storage tank and are later concentrated in the latter without appreciable, preferably without any, loss by evaporation during evaporative removal of part of the water content. The disinfectant must be effective against these bacteria in a concentration of disinfectant in water that is 0.1 percent by weight of the aqueous solution and this preferably as low as 0.01 percent.

In addition to water and the disinfectant, the disinfectant composition of the invention contains the compatible dye that is soluble in water to the extent sufficient to impart an adequate color to the initial water in which the composition is dissolved in the holding tank and to retain that color for the aqueous medium during the addition of human waste to the holding tank until partial transfer to the storage tank. The color must be pleasing to the viewer of the toilet when the liquid is pumped from that tank to flush the toilet. It must mask the color of human waste that would be apparent but for the presence of the dye.

Masking dyes of acceptable color have been added to water in a tank receiving human waste and from which liquid has been pumped for toilet flushing. However, the dyes were not required to be compatible with disinfectants, at least a disinfectant required to have the properties that are stated above and that exist only by virtue of the system of our invention, that is the subject of our copending application mentioned above, and the modifications of the system that are the subject of the present patent application.

Regarding the compatability requirement for the dye, it must be soluble in the disinfectant concentrate, that can contain as high as about 50 percent by weight of disinfectant compound. As stated above, alkali metal salts that are highly water soluble and that are disinfectants under the conditions of the use of the present system impart substantial alkalinity to the aqueous concentrate. This excludes various types of watersoluble dyes, such as aniline dyes, from the group of compatible dyes for use in the concentrate composition of the present invention. Suitable dyes include the class of dyes containing at least one sulfonic acid group as an alkali salt of that group. The term alkali" includes ammonium" and the alkali metals. An illustrative and preferred member of this class of compatible dyes is the ammonium salt of the product obtained by condensing o-formylbenzenesulfonic acid with alpha-(N- ethylanilino)-m-toluenesulfonic acid and then oxidizing the condensation product. The formula and the foregoing description of the preparation of the compound appear under colour index No. 42090 on page 3351, Volume 3, Colour index", Second Edition, published by The Society of Dyers and perature-sensing systemforthat tank becomes inoperative.

Colourists, Yorkshire,- England. The dye is available I and C. Blue Dye No. I from Warner-Jenkins'on Mfg. Co.,.St.

Louis, Missouri. On page S870 of the 1963 Supplement of Colour Index", also published by the Society of Dyers and Colouriststhat manufacturers dye of such designatio'n refers.

to colourindex No. 42090 for information. g 71 'Referringbaclt to the preferred typesof alkali metalsalts as the disinfectant compound,the alkali metal salts of the unsubstituted and the substitutedN-hydroxy-2-pyridinethiones that i g are described along with methods, for their preparation in US.

Pat. No. 2,686,78fi. The substituted compounds used here are as taught in that patent. Theassignee of that patent, presently Olin MathiesonChemical Corp., New York, New York. supplies anaqueous concentrateof 50 percent by weight of sodium 2- pyridinethione-N-oxide ,and balance water under the trademark; OMACIDE-6. This salt is especially preferred, as seen later. A brochure (AD-.l423-967)'of Olin Mathieson as. .F.D. {FIG 4 is a fragmentary elevationof the assembly showing I the. holding tank, a wash. basinwith drainpipe, piping tofeed water from the drain pipe to the holding tank, and the supply. device'and the metering device of the disinfectant composition introduction system also connected to thattanki FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevation, partiallybroken away, of

the drain valve and pipe for the basin'and the disinfectant ChemicaljCorp. states thatflOMACIDE-fi is a chelating agent.

The less preferred alkali metal salts are those illustrative salt is the tetrahydrate of the sodium salt of o-phenylphenol, sold by, Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Michigan This salt is less preferred because it precipitates in time, at leastto someexten't, during under the trademark .Dowicide A- its use, in the manner described above for-the method of. the

invention. This precipitation is probably due to the formation 7 of insoluble calcium saltJ-The effectiveness as a disinfectant is greater obviously when the phenol compound isin theliquid than when present asa solid. i V e I 7 Another embodiment. of the invention is the method of .using the disinfectant composition in the waste'm'anagement system. in the methodbroadly speaking it is not necessary to;- require the presence of compatible dye. It is apparent that.

broad embodiments of the apparatus that dojnot require and; 9

do not use liquid from the holding tank to flush the toilet can waterto the wash basin. Inthis method, the disinfectant composition is introduced into ,theholding tank along with fresh water, durin'g'each partialand eachcomplete servicing. It is also introduced into, the material remaining i'n the holding "tank at the completion of each cycle of transfer from the hold ,ing tank to the storage tank. This addition, ofcourse. can use the colored composition.

Still-another embodiment of theapparatus includes a lowlevel sensing meansin the storage tank to shut off the evaporative heater whenever the latter has removed water from the tank's contents after transfer cycles to a..p redetermined minimum levelof material in that tank. lhis'avoidsoverheat-v ingand failure of anevaporativeheater that is notbuiltto function as part of an incinerative heater. Furthermore, this utilize water from another source, e.g., thatused to provide of the present invention.

and pivotally mounting it on that top wall.

supply system, including the self-unloading canister, mounted on a service control panel.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross section of the supply'system,

the metering device and part of the means to operate the latter during the closing of the conduit between the holding tank and thestorage tank.

FIG.:7 is an elevation, partially FIG. 8 is a fragmentarycrosssection of thescoop of FIG. I mounted with a toilet bowl on the holding tank.

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan of the scoop of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevation, partially broken away of the holding and storage tanks, theconduit between them, and the valve to close the latter in a manner to provide a dam for liquidin the holding tank.

11 is a fragmentary cross section-of the storage tank, its outlet for vapor, and, a three-way valve controlling the 7 direction of flow of that vapor.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are top plans, partially broken away, showing two positionsof the1 spool of the valve for the two directions of vapor flow for-dumping.

- I FIG. 14 is a cross section in a vert cal plane of an alternative three-way'valve associatedwiththe storagetank outlet and the two piping systems solids.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary transverse cross section of the top wall ofthe holding tankand an elevation of another form of the scoop of the invention along withthe means for resiliently FIG. 16 isa longitudinal cross section'of part of the holding tank andof the scoop and shown inFIG. 15. I 7

FIG. 17 is a top plan of a portion of the top wall of the hold-.

of the top wall ing tank and showing in dotted lines the resilientzpivoted.

mounting means and the normal position of the scoop of FIG. 15 and showing in phantom lines a position of the scoop after it'has been forced; downwardly. and moved from below the opening in that top wallto provide access for retrieval of articles.

FIG. 18 is an elevation of [another embodiment of valve means to close a flexibleiconduit between the two tanks and shows a cross section of-the'flexible conduit, along with dotted lines showing the position of the closing bars of the valve.

means and the conduit thereby closed. 3

control of the evaporative heater avoids a high temperature valvedinlet for flushingfluid, external valve operator, and a for that tank during use in an airplane in flight when the tem;

metals and in'which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the" assembly of.

' systemof the present inventionare illustrated in'the drawings some of the components of the system with a toilet mounted 1 on one of the shrouds for the assembly.

- FIG. 2'is a fragmentary cross-sectional view that passesas 5L vertical'planethrough theoutlet of the holding tank andthe inlet for the storage tank butis forward (as viewed inFIG. 1)

I ofthat plane toward the ends of the assembly- FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transversecrosssection ofthe bottorn wall of the holding tank taken alon'g the line 3-3 of FIG. 7

7 FIG. j19'is a fragmentary cross section of another embodiment-of the apparatus of the present inventionshowing a .storage tank with evaporative heater,only,and showing a fragmentary .cross'section' of an" airplane fuselage along with energy to the pump, that is used when fluid inthe holding tank is'pumped as flushing liquid, and to electrical energy to the two heaters for the storage tank;

1 FIG. 21 presents another part of the electrical circuitry of the automatic controlfor operation of theapparatus of the invention in which the various components of the various embodiments are present;

FIG. 22 is a top plan of a fragmentary portion of another embodiment of the waste management system of the. inven-.

tion.

- FIG. 23 is 23 23 ofFIG.22.

, 24 is an end view of the holding tank shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 taken along the line 24-24 of FIG. 23.

broken away, of one scoop for dumping of.vapor or'volatilized the mounting means a fragmentarycross sectiontaken along the line 9 DETAILED DESCRlPTlON Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the system of the present invention is illustrated with a toilet 25 that is mounted on a top wall 26 of a temporary holding tank generally indicated at 27 (FIG. 2) within a cover or shroud 28 that has an extension 29 in which is located a flexible, resilient conduit 30. The apparatus has, also, a storage tank (FIG. 2) generally indicated at 31 within a shroud 32 (FIG. 1).

In this illustrative system tank 27 is above a portion of tank 31 and is supported by means (not shown). Of course, as described in our copending patent application, it is not necessary that tank 27 be mounted above tank 31. As a matter of fact, as mentioned in that application, several tanks 27 can be connected by conduits, such as conduit 30, to a common tank 31.

The apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrates the use of liquid from tank 27 for flushing of toilet bowl 25. For this part of the system a pump 33 is mounted on. roof or top wall 26 of tank 27. The pump 33 having motor 33M extends generally through an opening 34 in wall 26 so that an inlet pipe 35 for pump 33 has its bottom open end in a lower portion of tank 27 In this apparatus there is shown a self-cleaning filter 36 which permits fluid only to pass to inlet pipe 35 from this bottom portion of tank 27 The filter 36 is not necessary in this apparatus because of the construction of floor or bottom wall 37 of tank 27. The bottom wall 37 has a number of intermediate, raised, transversely spaced portions 38 that partially separate the lower portion of tank 27 into a zone A and a zone B. Because the raised portions 38 of bottom wall 37 are spaced from one another there is a number of U-shaped longitudinal channels 39. The channels 39 are narrow in width so that the movement of solids through channels 39 from zone A to zone B is minimized. Thus zone B receives from zone A a material that is substantially, if not entirely, liquid material.

A scoop generally indicated at 40 is mounted on top wall 26 of tank 27 at an opening 41 so that the top open end of scoop 40 is below and in communication with the bottom outlet of toilet 25. The scoop 40 has its bottom portion extending laterally in tank 27 in a direction so that scoop 40 has its outlet 42 directed away from zone B and outlet 42 is above zone A of the lower portion of tank 27. This human waste received in tank 27 from toilet 25 via scoop 40 is deposited in zone A and movement to zone B of solids and semisolid material must pass, after settling in zone A to zone B only by passing through channels 39. In view of the dimensions of channel 39, such movement from zone A to zone B is greatly restricted.

The tank 27 has an end wall 43 with a circular opening 44 that has its lowermost portion in the horizontal plane of the upper surface of-bottom wall 37. The flexible conduit 30 has one of its open ends secured and sealed to wall 43 by a ring 45 on wall 43. That open end of conduit 30 is in full communication with opening 44 of end wall 43. r

The other end of conduit 30 is mounted by a ring 46 on a plate 47 securely mounted on tank 31. The ring 46 is concentric with and preferably having the same diameter as a circular opening 48 in plate 47. The tank 31 has a roof or top wall 49 with a circular opening 50 of the same diameter and concentric with opening 48. The tank 31 is surrounded by a heat-insulating material 51 in which are embedded a heater 52 and a heater 53. The heaters 52 and 53 are electrical heater coils and are adjacent bottom wall 54 of tank 31. in addition heater 53 extends substantially completely around all walls of tank 31. The heater 52 is used to provide for evaporation of volatile material, such as water, transferred into tank 31 from tank 27. The heater 53, alone or with heater 52, provides the heat required to incinerate material within tank 31. The connection of these heaters to a power source is not shown except by lines in the circuitry in FIG. that will be described later.

The heat-insulating material 51 has an opening 55 concentric with openings 50 of tank 31 and opening 48 of plate 47.

Thus this other end of conduit 30 communicates with the interior of tank 31.

In view of the high temperature reached within tank 31 when heater 53 is operated, with or without heater 52 according to the design, the apparatus includes heatshielding means 56 that is a plate movable by a hydraulic cylinder 57 having a piston rod 58 connected at this end to plate 56. The plate 56 is preferably a laminate of two sheets of stainless steel and a heat-insulating sheet between them. The plate 47 has an elongated slot 59 in which plate 56 is moved by piston rod 58 from a normal position to the position shown in FIG. 2. 1n the latter position plate 56 closes the bottom portion of opening 48 so that hot gases from tank 31 during incineration are prevented from entering conduit 31. This keeps conduit 30 relatively cool and thus prevents all heat transfer to the contents in tank 27. it would be undesirable to raise the temperature of the contents of tank 27 because this would provide an evaporation and perhaps boiling of material in tank 27. This would be undesirable because tank 27 is open to the air in the toilet room via toilet 25.

The plate 56 is shown in its protective position described above. lts normal position is at a location where it closes an opening 60 in plate 46 that is concentric with and in communication with an opening 61 in heat-insulating material 51 and an opening 62 in top wall 49 of tank 31. A blower 63 is mounted on plate 47 so that the outlet of blower 63 communicates with openings 60, 61 and 62 to provide for inlet of ambient airinto tank 31 during an incinerationoperation.

The top wall 49 of tank 31 has an opening 64 with which communicates a pipe 65 that communicates at its other end with three-way valve 66 to which outlet pipe 67 and 68 are connected at the other openings of valve 66. The pipe 67 enters the top portion of a chamber of biological filter 69 which contains conventional material to provide sterility to the effluent gases from an evaporative operation of tank 31. These gases pass out filter 69 to a pipe 70 that extends to an opening in the fuselage wall of an airplane. Through that opening vapors are dumped to the atmosphere outside the plane? The pipe 68 likewise extends through th wall of the fuselage for dumping of the vapor when it is used for incineration rather than evaporation.

The valve 66 has its spool turned to the position for communicating pipe 65 with pipe 67 when the heating operation in tank 31 is the evaporative type. The valve 66 has its spool turned to communicate pipe 65 with pipe 68 when there is incineration in tank 31. This prevents passage of very hot gases from an incinerative operation through biological filter 69. its filter material would be destroyed by the temperature of the very hot gases.

As seen in FIG. 1, top wall 49 of tank 31 and heat-insulating material 51 above it are provided with an opening that is closed by a cover plate 71 having a handle 72 that provides access to tank 31, whenever such is desired.

The conduit 30 is flexible, i.e., can be closed by providing opposing forces to an intermediate section of conduit 30 so as to push the opposite side walls towards each other. In FIG. 1 the valve for closing conduit 30 illustrates somewhat sketchily one construction of a valve that is shown in more detail in FIG.

'10. A valve means generally indicated at 74 in FIG. 2 illustrates a different construction. In both cases the closing of a zone of conduit 30 is effected. This zone is an intermediate portion of conduit 30. The lowermost part of that part of conduit 30 is raised while the opposing part of that portion of conduit 30 is lowered until these opposing parts are touching each other. As a matter of fact the opposing wall sections constituting the full periphery of conduit 30 are then in abutting relationship. This prevents flow through conduit 30. At the same time the lower half of the portion of conduit 30 adjacent to this raised portion and toward tank 27 is also raised to provide a dam efi'ect external of tank 27 and upstream of the closed zone area.

Referring to HO. 1, valve means generally indicated at 73 includes a motor 75 disposed so that its longitudinal axis is conduit and shaft its original shape; i Referring to FIG. 2',the tank level, liquid-sensingmeans 90 and a low-level, liquid-sensing tion to tank 27. V e n y Thechannels 39 inthe raised portion 38 of bottom wall 37 horizontal. The motor rotatesjlinkage;generally indicated? at 76..The nature of linkage 76 and how it operatestransverse rods to close conduit 30 and then move thesefrodsawayso that conduit 30 opensare described later. i

Referring to valve means 74 in FIG. 2, includes a reversible motor 77 that has a shaft 78 on which is mounted a worm Y.

79 that mesheswith a gear 80 fixedly mounted on ashaft 815' The" shaft 81 is rotatably mounted on a pair of fixed supports 1 (not shown). A pair of armsf82 are fixedly mountedon shaft 81. The arms 82,attheir distal end, rotatably support-a cylindrical rod 83.

As described later for FIG. 10,there area chain and two sprockets (one fixedly mounted on shaft 81), a pair of gears,

and another chain and two sprockets including a sprocket (not shown) that is fixedly mounted on a shaft 84 rotatably mounted by support'rneans (not shown). i l The motor77gby gears 79 and 80' through the construction described above move rods,83 in an arcuate manner from a .positionshown in phantom lines to the right of shaft 811 to a closer position for rod 83. The shaft 84 is directly below open. 81. A pair of arms 85 are fixedly; mounted on shaft 84 to. be moved from a horizontal position, a during the lowering of arms 82, to a position vertically disposed above arms 85; The arms 85 rotatably supportat their distal ends a cylindrical rod 86so that rods 83- and 86 are 1 V supply system usually communicatespipe nswnha drain pipe 117. The

valve 116 can communicate pipe 115 with pipe 98 to provide. water to tank 27 as described later. The drainpipe 117 usually dumps the water to the atmosphere through an opening in the fuselage of theplane. i l

" .Referring to FIG. 5,which shows the construction of the 108 for the disinfectantconcentrate composi.

tion of the present invention,.thes upply system 108 includesa Except for thelower portion of extension'132, piston 133 is 25' I moved towards each other duringthe forward operation of 3 motor 77. This movement of rods 83 and 86 results in the closingof an intermediate portion of conduit 30 as seen in full lines inI-IG. 2. The dotted lines indicatethe nonnal outline of open conduit 30. The reversing operation of motor 77 results in the movementof rods 83 and86 away from conduit. 30. Because conduit 30 is resilient, as well a's flexible, it returns to.

'271 is providediwith a high? means 91 that extend into tank 27. As seen later,'these sensingv 6 means initiate the closing and opening, respectively, of conduit 30. The level of waste material and water, as a mixture, in tank 27 is shown by the wavy line thatis above the minimum level at which sensing means 91 is operative .via two wires and below, the level at which sensing means becomes. operative via two other wires. These four wires are in circuits shown in FIG. 21 that will be described later. V 1

The tank 27 has a spray ring 92 that is mounted just below top wall 26 and extends around the perimeter of tank 27. The I spray ring 92 is furnished rinsing water in the servicing of tank 27, as described later. Thiswater is furnished from a wash 1 basin (not shown in FIG. 2)by a pipe 98 that is connected to vent pipe 99, The pipe 99 extends through an opening in top wall 26 of tank 27 and is connected tospray ring 92. The pump has an outlet pipe 100 that is connected to a spray ring 101 mounted in toilet 25 at its upper portion.

Theapparatus of FIG. 2 also has a supply system generally indicated at 105.that is shown in more detail in FIG. 6. It is a metering system to furnish disinfectantconcentrate composioftank 27 are seen in FIG. 3. 1

7 Referring to FIG. 4, it is seen that tank 27 is connected ma 1 metering system generally indicated at 105 by a pipe 106. The

metering system 105 rsconnected-by pipe 107to asupply systemgenerally indicated at 108.

The pipe 98that is connected to tank 27via vent'pipe 99is connected to a wash bowl 109 that has an outlet valve lllo connected to its drain opening. The valve 110 is operated by a lever 111 and a linkage 112 joined to a handle 113 above bowl I 109 in a conventional manner of construction. This permits 1 the usual partial filling of wash bowl or basin 109 for washing of the hands and permits the furnishing of a predetermined amount of water to tank -27. In the latter case, water is added 7 to wash basin 109 up to a volume indicia 114 on the inside sur- 7 face of bowl 109. The valve 110 communicates with admin. pipe 115 that is connected to a three-way valve 116 :that

canister 120. A housing of canister 120 isprovided by a topitubular member 121 and a bottom tubular member 122 that are secured end: to end at their opposed outwardly extending flanges. 123 and 124, respectively, posing ends members 121 and. 122 areopen but are closed at their other ends by walls .126 and 127, respectively. that provide the top andbottom 'walls; respectively, of canister 120. The tubular member 121 hasan internally-threaded cylindri-' cal flange .128 I'ab ove ;wall 126 for threadedly mounting canister 120 on asupport-rnember 129 that has an externally,

threaded, downwardly-extending, cylindrical flange 130 to which flange 128 is engaged. The canister 120 has a central opening 131 in bottom wall 127."A hollow central extension 132 of a piston-l33 extends downwardly through opening 131.

within canister120.

The piston 133 is urged upwardlyiby spring 134 that has its top endqin-an annular recess 135* inthe bottom surface of piston 133. The spring 134' has its bottom end in an annular recess in a plate 136 secured on wall 127 within canister 120.

The piston 133:has a downwardly-extending skirt 137 that; is

spaced from the sidewall of canister120. Thus skirt 137 does not provide for a vertical guiding of piston 133; The plate 136 has a central hollow extension 138 between spring 134 and extension 132 of piston 133. The hollow extension 138 serves as.

a guide for piston'133.

The canister 120 has 'aflexible tubular sealing member 140 that is impervious to the liquid in canister 120. The upper end.

of member 140 is outwardly turned and secured between flanges 123 and 124; The other end of'member 140 is secured it on the top surface of piston133 by a plate141-fixed on piston 130 by means (not shown). Of course, it can be adhered to this end by member 140 and the latter adhered to piston 133. From its end between flanges 123 and 124 tubular zmember 140 extends downwardly beside wall 122 and then changes direction to extend upwardly besidethe top part of skirt 137 to'the end mounted on piston 133. As piston 133 is moved upwardlyby spring 134, the place in sealing member-140 at which there is this turn in its direction changes during all of g the upward movement of piston 1310. .At all times member 140 it prevents loss of liquid from the inside of canister 120.

r, The canister 120' has a central opening 139 in its top'wall 126 which has a top central boss 142 providing a continuation of opening 139 but the upper portion is of smaller diameter to provide a downwardly facing shoulder 143. A silicone rubber seal 144 is mounted in opening 139 including the portionlof smaller diameter. The shoulder143serves as a stop for seal 144.Thus, canister 120 has its chamber closed at the top by' seal 144 until canister120 is raised with rotation about its longitudinal axisfor mounting on support member 29. As canister seal ring 147 that prevents lossof fluid from canister 120. Liquid may pass betweenneedle 145 and wall l26 but can not pass betweenbosses 142 and ring 147. r 3

When the bottom open end of needle 145 communicates with the chamber of canister 120, fluid in the chamber is forced upwardly. through needle 145 and out its top end where byjbolts125. Attheseop- I 146 to theoutside because of it communicates with a fitting 148 and thereby with pipe 107. Liquid is forced from canister 120, through pipe 107 to metering system 105 due to the movement, now permitted, of piston 133 in an upward direction by spring 134.

Fromthe foregoing description of FIG. it is seen that the supply system of the invention includes a replaceable canister having a chamber in which liquid is placed, means within the canister to apply a pressure to the liquid in a particular direction and a scalable, penetrable member mounted in a wall of the canister in the direction of force against the liquid. The overall supply system further includes a support means for the canister, and hollow means mounted on the latter to penetrate the scalable member on the canister during the relative movement between the support means and the canister to provide an outlet from the chamber of the canister.

Referring to FIG. 6, a support means 150 of the apparatus has an opening 151. The metering system 105 includes a cylindrical housing 152 open at the bottom end above opening 151. The housing 152 has its lowermost sidewall portion downwardly flared and at its distal end there is provided outwardly-directed radial flange 153 that is mounted on support 150 to secure housing 152 in a fixed vertical disposition. With its longitudinal axis concentric with the center of opening 151, a piston 154 is mounted in housing 152. The piston 154 is supported by a spring 155 extending into a hollow recess at the bottom of piston 154. The bottom end of spring 155 is mounted in a recess 156 in the top of a piston 157 that has a spaced pair of downwardly-extending flat flanges 158 that are in the bottom flared part of housing 155. The flanges 158 are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of housing 152 and adjacent their distal ends they rotatably support a pin 159.

The outwardly-flared portion of housing 152 includes a radially-inward flange 160 that extends inwardly only a short distance and from flange 160 extends downwardly a tubular extension 161 having a pair of vertical slots through which extends the end portions of pin 159. A spring 162 is mounted around extension 161 so that the top end abuts the flange 160 and the bottom end abuts pin 159. Thus, pin 159 is urged downwardly by spring 162. g

The pin 159 supports a cam follower 163 which abuts a cam 164 fixed by set screw 165 on shaft 166. The cam 164 has the same radius throughout most of the periphery. Only a small portion 167 has an increasing radius followed by a decreasing radius to the normal radius. Thus the rotation of shaft 166 through one cycle provides for a momentary raising of piston 154 from its normal elevation shown in full lines to its maximum elevation shown by a phantom line for its top surface. This occurs when surface 167 abuts cam follower 163 that raises piston 157 to compress spring 155 following which there is the complete raising of piston 154 for a short period of time. As contact between surface portion 167 and follower 163 is at decreasing distance of the contacted part of surface 167 from the axis of shaft 166, piston 154 is moved downwardly by the weight of piston 157 and its follower 163, through the action of spring 155, and as a result of its own weight. The piston 154 has a ring seal 170 to prevent passage of liquid downwardly between piston 154 and housing 152.

The chamber is provided by the top end 171 of housing 152, the sidewall of housing 152 and piston 154. The liquid is received and then partially forced out of the chamber by the upward movement of piston 154.

The upper part of the sidewall of housing 152 has a pair of threaded openings 172. In one opening 172 there is mounted a check-valve fitting 173 to which is connected pipe 107 for introducing liquid from canister 120 into the chamber of housing 152. A check-valve fitting 174 is mounted on cylinder 152 at the other opening 172 to provide also for unidirectional flow but from the chamber of housing 152 to pipe 106 that is connected to fitting 174. lllustratively the check valve of fitting 173 has a crack pressure of from 1 to 2 p.s.i. absolute, whereas the crack pressure of the check valve of fitting 174 is from 20 to 30 p.s.i. absolute.

initially, pierces seal 144 of canister 120, fluid is forced from canister 120, by the force of spring 134 that raises piston 133, into pipe 107 and then into the chamber of housing 152. This pressure provided by spring 134 is insufficient to open check-valve fitting 174. However, when piston 154 is raised by the rotation of cam 167 as described above, sufficient pressure is imparted to liquid in the chamber of housing 152 to open check-valve. fitting 174. The liquid is forced into pipe 106. The other end of pipe 106 communicates with tank 27 as described earlier. Thus liquid is transferred to tank 27. Because of the lost motion construction of metering system 105,-only a small amount of liquid is rapidly transferred into tank 27. The dimensions of pipes 107 and 106 and of metering system are such that the quantity of disinfectant, concentrate composition introduced for one cycle of rotation of shaft 166 is,'for example, about 0.5 cubic centimeter.

After the small quantity of liquid has been forced through fitting 174 and pipe 106 into tank 27, replenishment liquid is received in the chamber of housing 162 because the lowering of piston 154 releases pressure that was imposed on the liquid. This results in the opening of check-valve fitting 173 due to the higher pressure being maintained in canister by spring 134. As a result, liquid flows from canister 120 into the chamber in the top part of housing 152.

in view of the foregoing description of the metering system, it is apparent that the system 105 includes a chamber having a piston and having an inlet with check meansv providing unidirectional flow from a supply source into the chamber, along with unidirectional flow from the chamber via an outlet. The metering system further includes broadly means to raise and lower the piston within the chamber in a cycle of operation, particularly in the present utilization in a cycle that includes a closing first of a conduit from the tank to which the outlet of the metering system provides transfer of liquid from the system.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, spout 40 has in this embodiment a lower portion that is in two halves and 181 that are pivotally mounted about a horizontally-spaced pair of longitudinal axes by hinges 182 and 183, respectively. Each of hinges 182 and 183 has a spring 184 (FIG. 8) that urges half- portions 180 and 181 into abutment with each other. The two halves can be locked in position by a latch 185 (FIGS. 7 & 8), but ordinarily this is unnecessary. in view of springs 184, it is apparent that the movement away from each other of portions 180 and 181 must be a forced movement, that must be continued throughout the time that it is desired to have these portions moved out of the way. This opening of spout 40 is utilized to retrieve material very conveniently from areas of tank 27 as described earlier. Also described earlier is the manner of mounting of spout 40 of tank 27 One advantage of this construction is the access thus provided for a relatively shallow tank. Because tank 27 is a tank for temporarily holding of waste, it is relatively shallow to minimize weight, etc.

As seen in FIG. 8, the toilet 25 has its bottom opening above and concentric with opening 41 of top wall 26 of tank 27. The lowermost portion of toilet 25 is an upwardly-extending flange 188 that rests on an outwardly-extending radial flange 189 of q the top portion of scoop 140. The flanges 188 and 189 are held in sealing abutment with each other by a mounting ring 190 that is secured to top wall 26 by bolts 191 in threaded openings 192 in wall 26. By this manner of construction, scoop 40 can be supported by tank 27 so that outlet 41 faces in the direction shown in FIG. 8 but toilet bowl 25 can be rotated 180 about a vertical axis so that the hinge mountings for a toilet and for a toilet cover are properly placed. This requirement occurs because sets of toilets are installed left and right.

Referring to FIG. 10, conduit 30 in this illustration has a horizontal portion generally indicated at 201 adjacent to tank 27 and downwardly directed curved portion 202, adjacent to tank 31 that provide a continuous passageway from material from tank 27 to tank 31. The conduit portion 202 includes a air is in pipes 107256 106. When needle 145 205. The lining plate arms 222 are brought provides a liquid dam upstream to tank 27.

' 235 fixedly mounted on plastic lining 203-in an,arcua te pussagewayj204 or ablock i 7 203 has a thickened flange 206 at its upstream end. The flange 206 is portion 201 and flange 206 of lining, 203Tareretained in posi-.

tion against block 205-by a ring :08 mounted on block'2051by bolts (notshown). v i I 1 The upstream conduitportion 201 is a tubularconduit that Y isflexible and resilient. It ,is :made ofa material, suchasrubber; to provide these propertiesl Thewallof conduit porabutted by an outwardly turned end part'207 of conduitportion 201; The end part 2070f conduit tion adjacent its downstream end and;up stream-end,

v diverges and converges to provide annular ribs 209 and2l0,

respectively. The upstream end of conduit portion 201 is outwardly turned to, provide part 214,0f' conduit portion 201 canbeinwardly moved towards its longitudinal axis until conduit portion 201 is closed at a horizontal plane containing that longitudinal axis. Theinsl termediate part'214 ha s longitudinal ribs 215 that opposeeach cooperate to provide thedesirable closing of conduit portion intermediate part2l4. J

The ribs 215, as in the vided by thicker'walls at those locations. Thus, the configuration of these ribs assist in the appropriate change in direction g of the opposed walls of conduit portion 201'w hen these opt posed forces are applied to close conduit portion 201.

The opposing forces are supplied by.,a transverse, horizontal ,roll 220 above conduit portion 201 at the intermediate part i 214 and a similar roll 221below-intermediate'part 214.

Theroll 120, is 'rotatably mounted at its ends on a pair of arms-222 that arefixedon a shaft223 that is rigidly mounted eccentricallymounted on a plate. 228 fixedly mounted on a shaft 229 of a motor230. With this construction, maria of; '228 throughjlSOTmoves pin 227 so that roll 220 and in phantom lines. At the same timeroll 221 is raised ,tothe position shown inphantom lines so that the central zone of ina flange 21l.which.-,is held in abut-' 1 meat against wall 43 of tank 27cby axing 212'. Thus, the construction' stated above provides conduit portion 201 with rigidly fixed ends andannul ar ribs adjacentthese ends so that thetwo ends are .retained in position while the intermediate V case of ribs 209 and 210, are not pro- 1 on a fixedsupport means (not shown.).The shaft 223 is moved! about its longitudinal axis by anarm 225 fixedly mounted on 'shaft-223'and pivotally connected to an end of an arm 226:; The other end of arm 226 is rotatably mounted on a pin 227 7 down to the position shown in phantom lines. During this movement of roll. 220, it has pressed f I downwardly along intermediate part 214 to bring the'central zorie of-intermediate part 214 to thehorizontalaxis as shown termediate part214 has its inner surface abutting the opposing surface of the top half to serve asa valve that closes conduit 1 otherlandare' at the horizontal plane mentioned above and l 201, wheriopposingforces are applied at the top and bottom of when there is incineration and to pipe 67 when there isimerely evaporation. The valve 66 has a housing 250 that encloses a spool 251. Housing 250 is mounted on top wall 49 of tank 31. The spool 251is hollow, closed at its top end and open at its 7 bottom end to providea chamber that communicates with a opening 64. .Thespool 251 has atop boss extension 252 that extends upward through and above an opening in housing 250. t

A handle 253 extends radially from boss 252 above" housing 3 250 for manual rotation of spool 251 about its vertical longitudinal axis. The spool has a circular opening 254 in its sidewall. The housing 250 has circular openingsfin its sidewall at the same elevation as opening 254. Each opening in the sidewall of housing 250 receives one end of, pipe 67or pipe 68. As a result, the movement of rotati on of spool 251 through 90 can alternativelyprovide connection of pipe 65 with either pipe 67,

or pipe 68.,FIG. 12 shows opening in spool 25lcommunicating with pipe 68. FIG. 13 shows spool 251 in its other position a by which opening 254 communicates with pipe 67.

Referring .to 1 FIG. 14, an alternative three-way valve,

where they are coaxial with each othrJPipe 65 extends verti-. cally upward into block 261. With this constructiompipe 64 can communicate pipe 65 with pipe 67 but rotation of spool 262'for' aboutits horizontal longitudinal axis-communicates pipe65 with pipe 68. g I r A chamber completelyencloses pipe 264 within spool 262. The chamber is defined bycurvedplates*270 and 271*, the

" base of the recess in block 261 anda cover (not shown). The

30. The raised lowermost portion of intermediate part 214 The raising of roll 22l is accomplished in synchronism with the lowering of roll 220 during the'half cycle rotation of plate 228 mentioned above.,A'pair of arms 230 rotatably support 'roll 221 at one of their ends-The arms,230are fixedly mounted on a shaft 231' that is rotatably mounted on a fixed support means.(not:shown). The shafty23l is rotated byani arm 232 secured at one end on shaft 231 and .pivotally con-,

nected at its other end to an arm 233 rotatably mounted-at its 1 other end on apin 234 that is eccentricallymounted on a plate a shaft 236. A sprocket 237 fixedly mounted-on shaft 229. drives'a chain 238 that engages and l drives a sprocket 239 fixed on a shaft 240 rotatably mounted.

on-a fixed support'means (not shown);- Theshaft 2 40has a i i f gear. 241 fixedly mounted on it. The gear, 241mm witha gear 242 that is fixedly mounted on a shaft 243 mounted ,on'a

fixed support means (-not shown); A sprocket 244 fixedly mounted on a shaft 243 drivesa chain 245 that engages and drivesa sprocket 246 mounted on shaft 236 forits rotation. 7

Referring to F168;, 12 and 13, a three-way valve 66 providesalternatively forflow of gasesfrorntank 31topipe 68' pipe 263 isthermally shielded from hot pipe 264 bythis con- ,stru'ction. Thepipe has an electrical heatercoil 272 helically wound around it to maintain pipe 264 at a hightemperature to insure the, continuous flow of gas without deposition of incinerative material from tank 31 during the use of that tank for such op'eratiomBecause of the high temperature of pipe 264, it is, necessary to thermallyfshield pipe 263 and the foregoing construction enclosing plates 270 and. 271 provides this-shield. *ln theabsence of thermal shielding, pipe 263 would becometoo hot and would raise thetemperature of gas passing from pipe to pipe 68 to a hightemperature that would d'estroythe biological filter, as described earlier.

Referring to FlGS. 15,16 and17, there isshown an alternative, construction ,of a scoop that receives the waste material from a toilet and transfers it into'tank 27:on which the scoop 40is mounted.

As best seen inFIG. 16, scoop is acne-piece construc-.

tion that has a topcircular inlet 280 and an outlet 281 thatis facing horizontally in tank 27. The scoop 40 1 extends downwardly and then laterally: ,The shape of outlet 281, as seen;in FIG. 15, is generally rectangulartwith rounded corners and the major axisis horizontal. The uppermost part of the wall of scoop 40 that constitutes the lateral extension has mounted on it a hollow cylindrical boss 283 with its uppermost portion having a smaller inner and outer diameters. The small inner. diameterprovides a, shoulder 284 that serves as a stop for oneend of a spring 18 5 mounted on a bolt 286 having its head 287 within boss 283 The bolt 286 extends through the top ,of boss 283 and wall26.-A nut 288 is on .bolt 28610" securely mount-bolt286 on top wall 26 of tank 27. The head 287 of bolt 286 is a bottom stop for spring 185. This constructionlpermits relative movementbetween bolt 286 and scoop 40. This occurs when it is desired to move scoop 40 downward i as described later. in, that case, spring 285 is compressed;

between shoulder 283 and head 287. V

Normally spring 285 urges scoop40 upwardly. When scoop 40 is in operative position, the top periphery of scoop 40 at.

upper inlet: 280 engages an annular" shoulder 289 present in the outer surface a downwardly extending annular flange 290 of top wall 26 at the location of inlet 280. The shoulder 289 is present in flange 290 because flange 290 has a portion adjacent its end portion converging in a downward direction, i.e., the end portion is offset inwardly. A bottom periphery portion of toilet 25 would be mounted on tank 26 so that it would be within flange 290 and abut the internal surface of flange 290 at the offset in the wall of the flange.

In the event that it is desired to move scoop 40 from its operative position, it is only necessary to push down on the bottom wall of scoop 40 until the inlet peripheral portion of the wall is moved below the bottom extremity of flange 290 of top wall 26. While maintaining this lower position, scoop 40 can then be moved in an arcuate manner about the vertical axis of bolt 286 to any of a number of positions, including that shown by phantom lines in FIG. 17 in which scoop 40 is completely away from the opening in top wall 26. This permits easy manual access of all parts of tank 27. To return scoop 40, it is merely necessary to provide again the downward force and to move scoop 40 about the pivotal axis of bolt 286 until inlet 280 is in alignment with flange 290. Release of the downward force results in the upward movement of scoop 40 by the force of spring 285 to put the scoop 40 in the position shown in FIG. 16.

Referring to FIG. 18, there is shown another embodiment of the means to close the conduit means and at this same time provide a dam effect for liquid adjacent to and in tank 27. In this case, the apparatus for closing a horizontal portion of conduit 30 adjacent tank 27 applies a closing force against an intermediate part of a portion 201 of conduit 30 adjacent to tank 27 in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 10. In the apparatus of FIG. 18, the closing force is provided by an upper rod 292 and a lower rod 293 that are moved downwardly and upwardly, respectively, in a transverse vertical plane with respect to portion 201 so as to lower and raise the top half and bottom half of the flexible, resilient conduit 30 at intermediate portion 201. The movement is at the transverse plane of abutment by rods 292 and 293 against intermediate portion 201 of conduit 30. The apparatus differs from the apparatus shown in FIG. in which rolls 220 and 221 must move through arcuate paths about axes transverse to the longitudinal axis of portion 201 during their downward and upward movement for closing conduit 30.

The rods 292 and 293 have threaded vertical holes at their ends through which pass a pair of threaded rods 294 that have opposite directions fo their threads. The rods 294 thus support horizontal rods 292 and 293. The threaded rods 294 are rotatably supported at the bottom ends by a bar 295 that is part of a fixed support means (otherwise not shown). One of the threaded rods 294 is rotated by a gear 296 fixed on one of threaded shafts 294 and meshing with a gear 297 fixed on a shaft 298 that is rotated by a reversible motor 299. The shaft 298 extends through motor 299 and its other end is fixedly mounted on a gear 300 that meshes with a gear 301 fixedly mounted on the other rod 294. By this construction, both ends of each of rods 292 and 293 are moved at the same speed by motor 299. The rods 292 and 293 move toward each other to close conduit 30. The reversal of motor 299 results in movement of rods 292 and 293 away from each other whereby a flexible intermediate portion 201 that is resilient returns to its original open configuration for the purpose of transferring flexible material from tank 27 to tank 31.

In FIG. 19, there is an illustration of the two-tank system of the present invention such as disclosed in our earlier copending patent application along with modifications that utilize some of the embodiments of the present invention.

In this embodiment tank 27 has pump 33 with filter 36 in zone B while the sidewall outlet is in zone A. These zones are separated by raised portions 38 in bottom wall 37 of tank 27. The side outlet in zone A, Le. opening 44 in end wall 43, communicates with conduit 30 which is illustrated in its closed position obtained by rolls 220 and 221, which are shown without equipment to support or to move them.

The tank 27 is shown with high-level, liquid-sensing means 90 and low-level, liquid-sensing means 91 mounted in zone B. Also shown is spray ring 92 that is connected, in this embodiment, with a pipe 310 that is connected to a pipe 311 by a check valve 312 and is connected to a pipe 313, a check valve 314 and a pipe 315 to a water source (not shown). In the use of the system in an airplane, pipe 311 can be connected to drain pipe of a wash basin, such as described earlier in connection'with FIG. 4.

The conduit 30 provides flow of waste material from tank 27 to tank 31 having heater 52 that provides sufficient thermal energy for an evaporative operation as described earlier in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. The tank 31 has a vent pipe 316 that permits dumping of water vapor from tank 31 to the air outside of the plane.

For the purpose of complete that is connected to pipe 311 so that rinse water is added to tank 31 simultaneously with the addition of rinse water to tank 27 by connector 320 and pipe 311. The connector 320 is joined to a pipe (not shown) extending from a truck or pipe line containing rinse liquid. The truck is furnished also with a tank or there is another pipe line for receiving waste and rinse material from tanks 31 and 27 by a conduit 321 and a connector 322 which is shown in FIG. 19 as closed by a hinged cap 323.

The conduit 321 has its top open end connected to tank 27 at an opening 324 in which is normally disposed a bulbous valve 325 that is mounted on the bottom end of a shaft 326. A sleeve 327 is supported by and extends through top wall 49 of tank .31. The shaft 326 extends upwardly in sleeve 327. A cable 328 is connected to the top of shaft 326 and extends around pulleys 329, 330' and 331. The cable 328 passes through sleeve 332 mounted on a wall 333 of a fuselage of an airplane. A handle 334 is connected to this end of cable 334. By pulling handle 334 away from wall 333 of the fuselage, valve 325 is raised to permit flow of fluid from tank 27 into conduit 321 and then out through the wall 333 of the fuselage to a connector 322. The connector 320 also extends through wall 333. Tanks 27 and 31 are furnished with flushing liquid via connector 320 and pipe 311 that passes out through spray rings 92 and 317.

Of course, check valves 312 and 313 prevent flow of rinse liquid furnished by pipes 311 and 315, respectively, in a direction other than into tank 27.

Before a receiving pipe is joined to connector 322, a pipe is joined to connector 320 to furnish rinse liquid via pipe 311 for a complete servicing operation that is initiated as described later.

To provide a control in the degree of evaporation of water from tank 31 so that the contents of that tank do not become dry and thus damage the electrical heater 52, a minimum liquid level is maintained in tank 31 in this preferred embodiment. For this purpose, tank 31 has a minimum-level, liquidsensing means 340 mounted at a predetermined elevation in tank 31.

Referring to FIG. 20, electrical power is furnished to motor 230 that operates one of the two valve closing mechanisms that have been described above and that are shown in FIGS. 10v and 18, respectively. The motor 230 is furnished electrical power by lines L1, L2, L3 and L4 that are connected illustratively to an alternating current of three-phase input. Line L4 is the neutral line. Lines L1, L2, and L3 are connected by normally open contacts l-lCR, 2-1CR, and 3-1CR to lines L5, L6, and L7, respectively, that are connected along with line L4 to motor 230.

The heater 52 is represented in FIG. 20 by heater coils ll-IC, 2l-IC, 3l-IC, that are connected to line L4 by a line L8 and that are connected respectively to lines L1, L2, and L3 by line L9, L10, L11 through lines L12, L13 and L14, respectively. The lines L9, L10 and L11 are connected to the three heater coils through normally open contacts 1-2CR, 2-2CR, and 3-2CR, respectively.

servicing of theiapparatus of this embodiment of the invention, tank 31 has a spray ring 317 open.-The operation of motor 33M pumped back into tank 7 and a normally open, 1 switch 2LS that is operated as described later.

A subcircuit'lA has solenoid coil lSOL in parallel with coil The heater 53-has heater coils 4HC, 5HC, 6I-IC thatareconnected byline L8 to line 144 and that are connected by subcircuits that are joined to lines L12, L13 and L14 respectively; The subcircuit containing coil 4HC includes a normally open contact l 4CR and normally closedcontact 4-,2CR. The subcircuit containing coil 5I-IC; includes a normally open con- ,-tact2-4CR and a normally closedcontact 5-2CR. Similarly, the third subcircuit containing coil 6HCincludes a normally open contact 3-4CR and a normally closed contact 6-2CR'.

nected by lines'L19,-L20 and L21 to lines L12, L13 and L14. .The motor 33M is also connected to lines L12, L13 andL1.4

by parallelcircuits that are connected to lines L16, L17; and

. e 201 that is normally closed but is open when switch IPB-A in subcircuit 18 is manually closed. The subcircuit 1D further in .cludes a normally open limit switch 3LS-B, thattis closed when The motor 33M of pump 33 is operated by being connected to a powersource, as illustrated in FIG. 20 by the connection switch SLS-A is opened; and normally closed limit switch lLS-A. I I

A subcircuit IE is connected iodine L and to circuit 1 between contact l-lTRand switch 2LS-A as in the case of vsub'circu it 1B. The subcircuit lE has a normally open limit switch'ILS-B that is closed when switch 1LS-A in subcircuit lDis opened.

A circuit 2 includes in series a'normally closed temperature- I actuated switch l'I'AS, a normally open vacuum switch IVS, a

. normally closed contactJ-SCR-A (offa latch-in relay lLR having coils JCR A and 3CR-B mentioned below), a normally open, minimum level, liquid-sensing switch 3LLS, and a coil 2CR of relay having contacts 1-2CR, 2-2CR, etc.

A circuit 3. includes in series a temperature-actuated, normally open' switch 2TAS and-acoiLS CR-A of latch-in relay L18 through normally open contacts 4-lCR, 51CR and 6- ICRL , Normally motor S ZlMis operated by closing switch DSW to flush the toilet. .Whenthe waste management system utilizes the components shown in" the embodiment of FIGS. 22 through 24, motor 33M is also operated when conduit is results in water being 27 asdescribed later in connection with that embodiment of FIGS. 22-24. The contacts in the parallel circuits mentioned above provide for such operation opened.

30 whenever coil lCRis energized, i.e., whenever conduit 30*is Referring toFIG.,21, the circuitry isprovided with direct ,1

current by lines I voltage source (not shown). The plus and minus signs'for lines L25 and L26 indicate a direct current potential. Tothe left of L25 and L 26 that are connected to adirect line L25 in FIG. 21is a column of numerals, with or without a letter of the alphabet, directly opposite circuits or subcircuits. A numeral represents a circuit. A subcircuit is a number and a letter. A sub'circuit is in parallel'with a part of a circuithaving the samenumeral. Of course it is really a circuithaving in se-': ries, the components of theso-called subcircuit andone or more, but-not all, of the components of theso-called circuit.

To the right of line L26 is a column of numerals, with and,

withoutletters, that indicate the circuit or subcircuit in which there is a contact of a relay affected by the .coil of the relayin the circuit or subcircuitto the left of, such numeral. The numeral'and letter, if present, is underlinedto indicate thelocation of a normally closed contact. 1

. The numeral20 in that right column indicates that con- 7 tacts, associated with the coil, can be found in FIG 20.

The circuitl includes a coil ICR of a relayhaving contacts l-lCR, 2-lCR, etc. The circuit 1 includes in series with coil lCR a normally open, time-closing contact-l-lTR (of a timer relay lTR that is referred to later in connection with circuit ,4) held-closed limit switch 2LS-A of a 1CR of circuit 1 and thus has contact l-lTR and switch 2LS-A in series with coil ISOL between lines L25 and L26. Coil I 1SOL is energized whenever coil ICR is energized. Y

A subcircuit 18 that is connected to line L25 and to circuit 1 between contact l-lTR and switch 2LS-A, has a normally open push-button switch lPB- A of switch lPB that is shown in I FIG. 5.

Arsubcircuit 1c is connected to line L25 and m circuit l between switch 2LS-A and coil -1C R. Thesubcircuit 1C includes a normally closed limit switch BLS-A'and a normally closed, held open limit switch 2LS-B that is operated in unison with switch 2LS-A,mentioned above as being incircuit 1.

A subcircuit 1D is connected to line L25 and to circuit 1 between switch 2LS A and coil lCR as in the case of subcircuit 1C. The subcircuit lD includes a low-level, liquid-sensing, normally closed switch lLLS and a push-button switch lPB-B,

lLR.

A subcircuit 3A is connected to circuit 3 between line L25 and switch ZTASJThe subcircuitBA has in series a push-button contact 2P3 and a coil 3CR-B of latch-in relay lLR. A subcircuit3B likewise is connected between line L25 and switch 2TAS of circuit 3 and includes a normally open contact 2-3CR -A and a red light. Of course, subcircuits 3A and 313 could be connected directly to line L25rather than into circuit 3, but for convenience of reading from FIG. 21 the sig: niticance ofthese circuits,,they have been shown as subcircuits. 1 w

A circuit-4 includes in series between lines L25 and L26 a r normally open, liquid-level sensing switch 2LLS and a coil 1TR of time-delay relay having contact l-lTR.

A circuit 5 includes in series a normally closed vacuum switch 2VS, anormally opcncontact 1-6CR (of a relay having a coil 6CRin subcircuit 7A mentioned later), a normally closed flow switch IFS, a normally closed, temperature-actuated switch 3TAS and a coil 4CR (of a relay having normally open contacts 1%4CR, 2-4CR,and 3-4CR shown in FIG. 20).

4LS and a coil 5CR of a relayyhaving normally open contacts 1-5CR and Z-SCR.

"cuit for coil 5CRwith which it is in series.

A circuit 7 includes a normally closed contact8-ICR and a normally open, time-closing contact 2-5CR in series with a solenoid 2SOL.

e A subcircuit 7A has a coil6CR in parallel with solenoid 2SOL and thus is connected between the latter and contact 2- SCR so that both solenoid 2SOL and coil 6CR are energized at the same time and are deenergized at the same time.

Referring to FIGS. 22 through, the embodiment of the system of the invention, thatisf shown, has a difierent construction for temporary holding tank 27 than that shown in the 'other embodiments that have been described above. For simplification, various componentsiof the system are not shown. For example, pipe 106 of metering system is not shown although it enters tank 27 in a preferred aspect of this embodie ment by which disinfectant concentrate composition is added automatically into tank 27 after each transfer of waste material from tank 27 to tank 31via conduit 30. i V

In this embodiment, tank 271 has an isosceles trapezoidal outline, as viewed from the top. ;The parallel walls are the front andrear walls of tank 27-. The end wall 43 is not as wide as the other end wall. The main difference between this tank 27 and tanks 27 described above in connection with other em,

bodiments-is the nature of theshape of bottom wall 37.This 1 tank 27 does not have raised portions 38, as in earlier embodiments to provide zones A and B. The bottom wall 37 below lower portion zone B inthis embodiment is flat and horizontal,

whereas a portion 350 of lower wall 37below zone Aisupwardly inclined in a direction away from-opening 44 in end A circuit 6 includes in series a normally open limit switch wall 43. This upward inclination continues to a maximum height at an intermediate portion of wall 37 from which there is a steeply inclined portion 351 down to the horizontal portion of wall 37 below zone B. As a result, the inclined portion 350 adjacent this sharply downwardly inclined portion 351 provides a partial separation between zone B and the part of zone A that is adjacent opening 44. A further separation between zones A and B is afforded by a plate 352 having perforations and mounted in tank 27 against an inclined portion 351. The plate 352 and the shape of inclined portion 350 provide a substantial barrier to movement of waste material, other than liquid, from zone A to zone B. The plate 352 is inclined toward wall 43.

The toilet 25 is mounted on top wall 26 and directly below the outlet of toilet 25 the scoop 40 is mounted on top wall 26. Their manner of mounting is shown diagrammatically rather than the specific way described in connection with earlier embodiments. For simplification scoop 40 is shown as having a one-piece construction and it is not mounted for movement relative to top wall 26 or toilet 25. However, outlet 42 faces end wall 43 so that material is transferred from toilet 25 via scoop 40 to the lowermost portion of zone A of tank 27. A mounting ring 353 is mounted on the outside surface of end wall 43. The mounting ring 45 is mounted on ring 353 by bolts 354. The outwardly turned end of flexible conduit 30 is secured between rings 45 and 353. The conduit 30 is closed, when required, in the manner described above for either embodiments. The shape of this end of conduit 30 by this closing, which is by a pinching action, is shown in FIG. 23 by phantom lines.

The portion 350 of bottom wall 37 that is below zone A has its corner parts raised adjacent end wall 43 and a part of the front and rear walls of tank 27. The area of raised rear corner part 354 is greater than that of front corner, part 355. This is because opening 44 in wall 43 has its center in a vertical longitudinal plane forward of the central longitudinal line of tank 27 In other words, opening 43 is offset forward. The bottom of opening 43 is at the lowermost point of the top surface of wall portion 350. By this construction, there is a deep trough in wall 37 adjacent opening 44. Because of the upward slant of wall portion 350 and the decreasing slope of parts 354 and 355, away from wall 43 the depth of this trough decreases toward plate 352 to a minimum depth of trough that extends almost to juncture with portion 351. This trough is present as the rear part 356 and the front part 357 of wall 37 beyond corner parts 354 and 355 are downwardly inclined toward each other. As a result, a shallow depth of material in zone A will flow toward the trough and then toward opening 44. At the juncture of portions 350 and 351, the wall portion 350 is flat.

In this embodiment, wall 37 below zone B is in the horizontal plane of the lowest portion of wall portion 350 but it can be higher or lower.

As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, tank 27 is provided with liquid-sensing means 90 and 91 that extend into zone B of tank 27. The liquid-sensing means 91 is preferably located at a height to sense the level of liquid in zone B in a plane corresponding to the juncture between portions 350 and 351 by bottom wall 37. Of course, liquid-sensing means 90 is above liquid-sensing means 91.

The inlet pipe 35 of pump 33 is-located in zone B adjacent 1 bottom wall 37. The motor 33M of pump 33 is mounted on top of pump 33 and it is seen from FIG. 22 that pump 33 and its inlet pipe 35 are located behind the longitudinal central plane of tank 27. A pipe 360 is connected to the outlet of pump 33. The other end of pipe 360 is connected to an inlet of a solenoid-operated, three-way valve 361 that is normally connected to pipe 100 that provides flushing liquid to toilet 25 as in the other embodiments. When the solenoid ISOL, that is mentioned above in connection with FIG. 21, is energized, the spool of valve 361 is moved to communicate pipe 360 with a pipe 362 instead of with pipe 100. The pipe 362 is connected by a coupling 363 at top wall 26 of tank to a pipe 364 that extends vertically and then horizontally in tank 27 above zone B and toward perforated plate 352. The pipe 364 is connected at its end to a horizontal pipe 365. This connection is intermediate the ends of pipe 365. The pipe 365 extends transversely within tank 27, i.e., from the front to the rear. The pipe 365 has a number of openings 366 that face downwardly and toward plate 352. Thus. the transversely-shaped openings 366 provide water spray.

Wash liquid obtained from zone B by pump 33 through valve 361 and ultimately sprayed out openings 366 of pipe 365 against plate 352 to open any apertures in plate 352 that are clogged'with solid. The liquid passes through these perforations of plate 352 into zone A to flush material in zone A to opening 44 and then through conduit 30 to tank 31. This diversion of pumped flushing liquid occurs when conduit 30 is being opened in a cycle of operation that transfers waste material from tank 27, as described for other embodiments. This opening of conduit 30 is initiated by liquid-sensing means 90.

As seen in FIG. 21, the solenoid lSOL is energized whenever coil lCR is energized. The motor 230 that is energized by coil lCR opens conduit 30.

As shown by phantom lines in FIGS. 22 and 23, the apparatus utilizing diverted pumped liquid can be modified to include a jet pipe 400 that extends in a downwardly inclined manner from modified and repositioned pipe 365 into zone A toward opening 44. The open end of pipe 400 is generally below opening 42 of scoop 40 so that pumped liquid from pipe 400 provides a blasting force for solids to ensure their removal through conduit 30. Instead of openings 366, modified pipe 365 has widely spaced openings in which are placed nozzles 401 that are flared in the direction of the axis of pipe 365 to provide an overlapping spray against plate 352.

In another modification, solenoid lSOL would not be in subcircuit 1A. It would be a circuit (not shown) in a series with a normally closed, held-open limit switch, a minimum level normally open sensing switch (that is closed by liquid above the level of sensor 91 and a coil of a relay having three normally open contacts in circuits in parallel with contacts 4- LCR, S-LCR, and 6-ICR (FIG. 20). That limit switch is closed by a cam operated by the rotation of plate 228 during the opening of conduit 30. The cam opens that switch and keeps it open until plate 228 starts the second one-half of a complete revolution. As a result pump 33M is operated and valve 360 has its spool at the position to provide pumped liquid from zone B to pipe 365 from the time that conduit 30 is being opened until the level of material in tank 26 falls to the minimum level. This is especially desirable when the jet pipe 400, mentioned above, is used.

The spray ring 92 that is shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 is used in the partial servicing or the general servicing for flushing tank 27. The washing liquid is furnished to spray ring 92 via pipe 310. The vent pipe 316 for tank 27 is shown in FIG. 22 only.

Earlier in this specification, reference was made to the use of a conduit with a flexible resilient portion and to raising means for the movement upwardly of the lowermost inner surface of part of the flexible portion of the conduit as part of the pinching action to close the conduit. Instead of this specific construction, the conduit 30 can be constructed of rigid pipes and swivels to permit raising of a part of the conduit, preferably adjacent tank 27. A valve would be mounted in conduit 30, e.g., between two pipes of conduit 30. The pipe to provide the dam would be arcuate with its intermediate portion normally below the ends that are at the same horizontal plane. By rotation of this pipe about swivels at its ends, the intermediate portion is raised to provide the dam within conduit 30. This prevents flow of material from the holding tank in the event that the valve in the conduit does not close. In this construction the valve would not serve the dual function of closing the conduit and providing the dam by raising a part of the conduit, as described above in connection with the illustrative embodiments of the invention.

OPERATION In the description that follows for the initiation of and each it cycle of operation between partial servicing or. complete servicing, it is assumed that motor 230 and the equipment that it which rolls 220 and 221 are a way from portion 201 of conduit I 30. When shaft229 of motor230 is atthis position, driven shaftl66 is positioned throughia drive system (not shown) operates, as shownin FIG. 10, are used.At the start of the use a, of the equipment, plate'228 is at the position in. FIG. by

connecting shafts 229, and 16 6sothat cam follower 163 abuts l cam l64 at a non-cammingposition'sothat during the normal one-half rotation of shaft 166 and thus cam 164, the cam follower 163 will be in abutment with cam portion 167 and then a in abutment with the surface of cam 164 just beyond portion 167 atthe end portion of, this rotation that occurs during the closing of conduit 30. 1

7 At this initiation} of the operation, it isassumed also that canister120is mounted as shown in FIG. 5 so that disinfectant concentratecomposition has passed into the chamber of housing 152 of supply system 105. Checkvalve fitting 174 stops further flow of the composition. The valve 110 is closed and water is added to wash basin 109 until the waterlevel reaches indicia 114. The valve .116 has been turned from its normal position so thatit no longer provides 'drainagefrom pipe 115,

to pipe 117 but rather communicates pipe 98 with pipe 115.

:Whenconduit is open and plate 228 is at the position,

mentioned'abOveQIimit switch'2LS has its' switch 2LS-A in open position and its switch2LS-B in closed position.These. switches have beenimoved to those positions bytheir springs.

A cam is mounted on shaft 166 or 811811129101 another shaft a (not shown) that is driven by motor 230. Thecamming action occurs onceduring rotation of the cam through 360, i.e., when conduit 30 is,,co mpletely closed by rolls 220 and 221.

Thus when conduit 30fis closed,the cam provides the closing and opening of switches 2LS-A and 2LS-B,'r'espectively.-

When conduit 30 is completely open because rolls 220 and 221 have been moved to the'positions shown in FIG. 10,'a cam" (not shown) engages switch3LS so that switch 3LS-A is open and switch SLS-Bis closed. Whenever oneof the, shafts, e.g.,"

shaft 229is at any position other than that at which conduit 30 is open, switch 3LS-A is closed and SLS-B is open. The service switch 1LS is already at the operative position sothat switch 1LS-A is open and switch lLS-B is closed.

Atthis initiatiomof the operation, there 18 no liquid in tank 27. Thus level switch 1LLS is closed. The level switch 2LLS is open and thus coil lTR is not energized so that contact l-lTR is open.

' r Because push-button switch 1P8 is notbeing pressed, con-.

tact 1 PB-A is open and contact lPB-B is closed.

in view of the" open conditionsof some swltc motor 230 is started. by moving service switch 1LS tothefin operative position so that switchv lLS-A is closed. ,This results in the energization of coil ICR through subcircuit 1D. Contacts 4-1CR, 5-1CR and 6 -1CR close to start'motor230. As

motor 230 is operated, the cam for limit switch 31.8 is rotated so that the camming action no longer occurs and switch 3LS-R opens. Energization of coil ICR continues because, .at the time switch 3LS-B opens. switch SLS-A closes to utilizesub-a circuitlC asaholding circuit." I i When motor, 230hasoperated sufficiently to close conduit 30, the cam forlimitswitch 2LS has been rotatedto the lcamming position whereby limit switch ZLS-A is closedand I switch 2LS-B is opened. The opening of switch2LS-Bresults in the open ing of holding circuit IC and the deenergizationof coil'lCR. The contactsA-ICR, s-lC-R zand 6-1CR open and motor 230 stops. v v y V V 3 With conduit 30 now closed by rolls 220 and 221, valve110 is opened to allow flow of water from bowl 109into tank 27l Just-before conduit 30 was completely closed, cam164hadr mums-A onnnlu. swatnm m5 m'nmvide a hvdraulic pressure, in I s of conduit 30. When ,motor 230 has operated fora short period of time thecam for switch 2LS is no longer operative so "that switch 2LS-A openssand switch 2LS-B closes. From the, time that motor 230 had been operated for a short period of i time in order; to close conduit 30, switch 3LS-A had been hes and con tacts, coil lCR and solenoid ISOL are'not energized. The

' 24 r the chamber of housing 152 to open the check valve in fitting 174 so as to provide a metered amount of disinfectant concentrate composition into tank 27 via pipe 106. With the introduction of water from wash bowl 109 into tank 27 andwith the introduction of the disinfectant concentrate composition as described above, tank 27 now has a proper amount of water containing a suitable concentration of disinfectant and dye.

The toilet system is now ready for use. V As .waste material flows fromtoilet 25 and is flushed from it to tank 27 via scoop 40, the liquid, level in tank-27 rises. Ultimately low-level, liquid-sensing means switch ILLS is opened when it, shown insome drawings as the level-sensing means .91, detects this level of liquid. By} further use of the toilet.

sysltem,there is a'further rise in the level of material in tank 27 until the level reachessensing means 90, which is high-level, liquid-sensing switch 2LLS that is thereby moved to the closed position. When this occurs, coil lTR isenergized to initiate a the closing of contact 1-1TR.uAftera predetermined period 0 time, e.g., seconds, contact 1-1TR closes. V a

. The time-delay relay containing coil lTR and time-closing contact 1-1TR'isused instead "of a relay having a normally open contact to avoid an energization of coil 1CR in the event that switch 2LLS is closed merely by lateral movement of material within tank 27. Such movement occurs, e.g., when the airplane is tiltedabout its longitudinal axis during flight. Such 1'1",111 level in a part of tank 27 occurs for a short period of time. It would produce a false signal that would result in the energization of coil lCR and the opening of conduit 30 before the real level of materialin tank 27 had reached the height sufr' ficientto close switch 2LLS. f

' lt hasbeen stated above that switch 2LS was moved by its operatingcam when conduit 30 was returned to its closed position. At that time, the holding circuit 1C was opened and switch 2LS-A was closed( Accordingly, thisclosing of contact 1-1TR, asdescribed above, resultsj in the utilization of circuit 1 to energize coil lCR for the initiation phase of this opening returned by its spring to the closed position. Thus, subcircuit 1C provides continuation of the energization of coil 1CR until the cam for switch 3LSopens switch 3LS-A.This occurs when.

rolls, 200 and .221Lhave been movedaway completely from. conduit 30. Because it is resilient atthe area to1be pinched for closing, conduit 30 opens. .The, deenergization of coil lCR results in the stopping of motor 230..

When conduit 30 has opened, 'flowable material moves out of tank 27. through conduit so and into tank 31. This flow continuesuntilthe level of material in tank 27 is lowered to the pointat which switch ILLS closes. When this happens, subcircuit lDainitiates the energization of coil lCR until the cam. for switch 3LS'rotates to beiinoperative so that switch 3LS-B opens. At the same time, switch 3LS-A closes to pro- 'videholding circuit lCforthe continued energization of coil lCR. This continues the operation of motor 230 to complete the closing of conduit 30 as described above in connection with the condition for the closing of conduit 30prior to the adding of water from wash bowl 109. :This completes the cycle of operation of theiopening and closing of, conduit 30 that is started when the real level of material in tank 27 has reached is not added. Thus, the composition replenishes tank 27 with a disinfectant and dye approximately at the end of a cycle. Most v of these materials added at the previous closing of conduit 30 is in the transferred material and thus in tank 31.1 he automatic addition of composition proyidesthe replenishment.

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