US3727241A - Soil pump sewage handling system, method and toilet apparatus adapted therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

A sewage handling system, a toilet apparatus and a method by which waste may be pumped through a conduit of relatively small internal diameter. Heterogeneous mixtures of waste and flush fluid are emptied through a drain in the bowl portion of the toilet apparatus into a conically blending chamber therebeneath. Blade means are rotated at high speed within the blending chamber to transform the heterogeneous mixture into a homogeneous slurry that is easily transferred through the conduit into the holding tank by a pump means. A common motor drives both the blade means and the pump means, but in order to use a pump means that is low on power consumption some means must be employed to interrupt rotation of the blade means sufficiently to permit the homogeneous slurry to exit from the blending chamber and flood the intake off the pump means. In one embodiment of the invention disclosed this is accomplished by employing a clutch selectively to drive the blade means. Of particular suitability to this embodiment a baffle may be interposed between the blade means and the intake of the pump to minimize turbulence in proximity to the pump intake and thereby assure flooding of the pump intake even when rotation of the blade means is not absolutely precluded during the pumping stage of the flush cycle. In another embodiment a timing means deactivates the motor so as to interrupt rotation of the blade means for a predetermined time interval sufficient to permit the homogeneous slurry to pass from the blending chamber into the intake of the pump.

Description

United States Patent 091 Drouhard, Jr. et al.

[ 41 son. PUMP SEWAGE HANDLING I571 ABSTRACT SYSTEM, METHOD N LE A sewage handling system, a toilet apparatus and a APPARATUS ADAPTED THEREFOR method by which waste may be pumped through a inventors: Alfred Droulmrd,v In; John conduit of relatively small internal diameter. I Weeks Jrqboth of Mansfield, Ohio Heterogeneous mixtures of waste: and flush fluid are emptied through a drain in the bowl portion of the Assignee? Mainsfield yd e, Perrysville, toilet apparatus into a conically blending chamber therebeneath. Blade means are rotated at high speed [22] Filed: Oct 19, 1970- within the blending chamber to 'transform the heterogeneous mixture into a homogeneous slurry that [21] Appl. No.: 81,748 is easily transferred through the conduit into the holding tank by a pump means. A common motor drives 52 US. Cl. ..4/10, 4/77, 4/90, both the blade means and the P means, but i 4/1316 4 order to use a pump means that is low on power con- [51] Int. Cl. ..-....E03d 1/00, E03d 3/00, E03d 5/00 sumptio" some means must be p y to interrupt 58 Field ofSearch... ..4/s-9, rotation of the blade means sufi'leiemly to permit the 4 7 77 7 79 3 g4 g9 92 homogeneous slurry to exit from the I blending 114 I 4; 3740; 141/1 3 2; chamber and flood the intake off the pump means. In

241 4 4 02 4 11 4 7 one embodiment of the invention disclosed-this is accomplished by employing a clutch selectively to drive 5 R f e Ci d the blade means. Of particular suitability to this embodiment a baffle may be interposed between the UNITED STATES PATENTS blade means and the intake of the pump to minimize 3,035,274 5/1962 Baughman ..4 77 turbulence in Proximity to the Pump intake and 3,504,381 4/1970 Dewey ..4/89 thereby assure flooding of the u intake even when I 3,272,188 9/1966 Sabat ...l23/41.4,6 rotation Of the blade means is not abselutely 3,304,559 2/1967 Frankal et 21].... ..'.....4/100 X precluded during the pumping stage of the flush cycle. ,5 ,39 3/1971 Hirsch --l38/40 In another'ernbodiment a timing means deactivates 3,223,036 1/1966 zaske et the motor so as to interru t rotation of the blade 3,094,707 6/1963 Fleming ..4/77 means for a predetermlned iime interval sufficient to 1 ,8 4. C l r /90 permit the homogeneous slurry to pass from the 5 6/ 1967 Kilbanee -4/9O X blending chamber into the intake of the pump. 3,545,011 12/1970 Halke et al. ..4/89 X g 4 2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Primary Exaniinr- Henry K. Artis Attorney-Hamilton, Renner & Kenner 4 I 23 22 l H 4 3 ,7, 5 5 43 e 346 n 49 44 n2 40 54 4s 6 I O4 3 s so [451 Apr. 17, 1973 PATENTEUAPR I 71915 sum 1 a? 4 INVENTORS ALFRED J. DROUHARD,JR.

BY JOHI|V R. WEEKS JR.

H 1 fiaflm,

ATTORNEYS PATENIEDM I ma SHEET u [If 4 FIGS INVENTORS ALFRED J. 'DROUHARD, JR.

13y ZO R. WEEKS, JR.

l Mn m0 M' AT TORNEYS SOIL PUMP SEWAGE HANDLING SYSTEM, METHOD AND TOILET APPARATUS ADAPTED THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a self-con tained sewage handling system. Specifically, the present invention relates to the method and apparatus for receiving sanitary sewage in a trapless bowl and transferring it to a remote holding tank. The heterogeneous mixture of water and waste material are blended into a homogeneous slurry in order to conserve the amount of flush fluid required and in order to permit the conduit connecting the toilet to the holding tank (and through which the slurry is pumped) to be of a relatively small internal diameter.

As is becoming more and more apparent, the healthy existence of mankind requires an adequate, potable water supply and adequate facilities for the collection and disposal of sewage. Of particular importance is the collection and disposal of sanitary sewage, and the present invention relates to the removal of sanitary waste from a bowl to a temporary storage facility, or holding tank, located in spaced relation to the bowl, as is desired in an environment either remote from, or inconvenient to, a sewerage system. As such, it is particularly suitable for use in mobile homes, airplanes, buses, railway cars, boats or the like.

Self-contained sewage handling systems can be broadly classified in four categories: viz., gravity systems; recirculating systems; pneumatic systems; and, soil pump systems.

In a gravity system the relative location of the toilet 'bowl and the holding tank is absolutely fixed the holding tank must be located on a level lower than the discharge drain from the toilet bowl, and, to minimize the volume of flush water required, must be in rather immediate proximity to an orientation beneath the bowl. This interdependence as to the location of the components in a gravity system seriously limits the cations wherein such an arrangement can be installed. In a recirculating system a pump, generally powered, filters and forces liquid from the holding tank back into the bowl from which it returns to the holding tank as the toilet is next flushed. Often the bowl assembly, pump, filter and holding tank are contained in a single unit, and such an arrangement is rather bulky. Although bulk is itself a definite drawback in the environmentfor which such a system is intended, there are other drawbacks which some users find highly offensive. As an example, because the fluid from the holding tank is recirculated to the bowl for flushing, chemicals are added to the system not only to mask the appearance of the flushing fluid but also to deodorize and disinfect the flushing fluid, To some users, however, the cure is as bad as the problem sought to be overcome. Moreover, routine maintenance to a recirculating system can also be highly unpleasant particularly inasmuch as the filter and pump are generally submerged within the holding tank.

Pneumatic sewage systems are relatively new, and while they offer a highly desirable alternative, they are relatively expensive and tend to require special components in order to assure the subatmospheric pressure in the system necessary for the waste to be forced between the bowl and the holding tank.

In a soil pump system the contents of the toilet bowl are emptied into a holding tank by a generally hand operated piston pump the inlet to the pump commu- 0 large amounts of liquid to effect a flush; This directly affects the size of the holding tank required for this type system. Moreover, the soil pump requires check valves on both the inlet and discharge sides thereof so that clogging of those valves is a constant threat to the satisfactory operation of the system.

In some installations the soil pumps have been electromechanically operated, but in order to provide sufficient pumping action excessive electrical power has been required with no reduction in the amount of water required to effect the transfer of the waste material from the toilet to the holding tank.

One prior known electromechanical soil pump also includes a grinder on the order of that employed in garbage disposal units to pulverize the waste material as it passes into, or through, the soil pump. These units have almost always made provision for injecting a disinfectant into the pulverized waste, because they have been designed to discharge the treated waste either immediately or after retention in one or more holding tanks for a sufficient time hopefully to allow the disinfectant to sanitize the discharge.

The prior art soil pump systems described above are not economical with regard to the amount of flushing fluid used, and the grinding mechanism heretofore used also requires an excessive amount of electrical energy to operate. Moreover, there is an increasing amount of legislation being passed to prohibit such indiscriminate waste discharge. With mandatory provisions for retention of waste until it can be drained into authorized treatment facilities, the efficiency of the flushing arrangement and the size of the holding tank required become increasingly important.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, a primary object of the present inven-' tion to provide an improved apparatus for a soil pump sewage handling system.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a sewage handling system, as above, wherein the holding tank can be spaced from the toilet and the course of the conduit communicating therebetween is not limited to a predetermined orientation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sewage'handling system, as above, which will accomplish a flush with a minimal amount of liquid so that the holding tank may be relatively small.

It is a still further object of the present invention to i means whereby a heterogeneous mixture of waste material and flushing liquid may be drained from the bowl, blended to a homogeneous slurry and the slurry pumped through the conduit and into the holding tank of the system. I

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method for accomplishing the transfer of waste from a toilet to a holding tank, as above.

These and other objects, together with the advantages thereof over existing and prior art forms which will become apparent from the following specification, are accomplished by means hereinafter described and claimed.

In general, a sewage handling system embodying the concept of the present invention employs a toilet apparatus that communicates with a remote holding tank by means of a conduit having a relatively small internal diameter. Means are provided to admit a relatively small amount of flush fluid into the bowl portion of the toilet, and the toilet has a drain that is selectively opened and closed by a valve means to permit heterogeneous mixtures'of waste and flush fluid in the bowl to be emptied into a blending chamber positioned beneath the drain. Blade means are mounted within the blending chamber for relatively high speed rotation by a motor. The blending action of the high speed blades transforms the heterogeneous mixture of waste and flush fluid into a homogeneous slurry that may then be pumped through the small I.D. conduit and into the holding tank.

In the preferred embodiments of the present invention the pump may also be driven by the same motor that powers the blade means. In one embodiment a clutch is employed to effect selective connection between the motor and the blade means. In addition, a baffle is preferably interposed between the blending chamber and the intake of the pump in order to minimize turbulance at the intake and thereby permit the use of a centrifugal pump that has low power consumption but which requires a flooded intake.

In an alternative embodiment employing the same type pump, a timer is employed to deactivate the common motor and thereby interrupt rotation of the blade means for a predetermined period of time after the heterogeneous mixture has been blended in order to assure flooding of the pump intake with the resulting homogeneous slurry.

One preferred embodiment of a system incorporating the concept of the present invention and capable of operating according to the method thereof, together with an alternative form of the toilet apparatus usable therein, are shown by way of examples in the accompanying drawings and are described in detail without attempting to show all of the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied; the invention being measured by the appended claims and not by the details of the specification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective of a system em- FIG. 3 is an enlarged area of FIG. 2 depicting the blending and pumping mechanism of the toilet apparatus in greater detail;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross section taken substantially on line 44 of FIG. 2 and depicting the flush fluid passageway from a plenum chamber in the bowl portion to a trap means in the pedestal on which the bowl portion is supported;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial section taken substantially on line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and depicting the trap through which a portion of the flush fluid passes to wash the flush valve element during each, flush cycle;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 66 of FIG. 2 and depicting, in top plan, the pedestal on which the bowl portion of the toilet is supported and the valve means carried in the pedestal to open and close the drain of the bowl portion; and,

FIG. 7 is a schematic vertical section, appearing on the same sheet of drawings as FIG. 1, of an alternative form of blending and pumping mechanism adapted not only for employment in the novel toilet apparatus incorporated in a system embodying the concept of the present invention but also for practicing the method thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring more particularly to the drawings, a sewage handling system embodying the concept of the present invention is designated generally by the numeral 10 and comprises a toilet apparatus 1 1 that communicates with a holding tank 12, as by the transfer.

conduit 13 having a relatively small internal diameter.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the toilet apparatus 11 is of the type commonly referred to as a trapless toilet and has a bowl portion 14 supported on a pedestal 15. The pedestal 15 may comprise a valve housing, as shown, so that the lower flange 16 can be secured to a hollow dais 18 in which the blending and pumping mechanism 20 of the toilet apparatus 11 may be housed, or the pedestal may, if desired, extend to the floor 21 and provide a skirt (not shown) within which the blending and pumping mechanism 20 may be housed.

The upper rim 22 of the bowl portion 14 has a passageway 23 therein connected to a fresh water supply, as represented by conduit 24 that communicates with plenum 25 (FIG. 4), capable of admitting a predetermined quantity of flush fluid. One or more apertures 26 pierce the lower side of rim 22 adjacent the wall 28 of the bowl portion 14 to direct the flush fluid e.g., water thereacross. The wall 28 of the bowl portion 14 curves convergingly downwardly from the rim 22 in the conventional fashion to a drain 29.

The plenum 25, in addition to communicatingwith passage 23, also communicates with a passageway 30 that extends downwardly along the wall 28 of the bowl portion 14 and communicates with the upper. end ofa vertical tube 31 within a trap 32 incorporated on the exterior of the pedestal 15 (FIG. 4). As is also shown in FIG. 5, The lower end of the tube 31 opens into a trap cavity 33, and the cavity 33 communicates'directly with the V-shaped, upper, seating edge 34 on the pedestal 15 at a level above the level at which the tube power electric motor proximity to the base of the trap 32 permits selectively draining the trap cavity 33 and passageway as well as assuring drainage of any flush fluid in passageway 23 or plenum 25 that did not exit through apertures 26. A provision for complete drainage facilitates Winterizing.

A valve means is operative to .open and close the drain 29, and a resilient, annular anchor base 41 on valve seat 42 may be interposed as a sealing means between the bowl portion 14 and the pedestal l5 and secured therebetween by conventional clamping arrangement 43.

The movableelement 44 of the valve means 40 may be of the ball variety and is mounted for rotation through approximately 90 on a pair of opposed gudgeons 45 and 46 that extend diametrically with respect to the spherical outer surface 48 of the movable valve element 44 and are journaled in bearing bosses 49 and 50, respectively, provided in the pedestal 15. The one gudgeon 45 extends, shaftlike, through boss 49 and is secured to a flush lever 52 that extends conveniently to one side of the bowl portion 14 for selectively rotating the valve element 44. j

The spherical outer surface 48 of the valve element -44 slidingly engages the annular perimeter 53 presented by the valve seat 42. If desired, the perimeter- 53 may be presented by an annular facing ring 54 supported on the resilient base 41. As shown, the facing ring 54 may be imbedded in, and bonded to, the resilient base 41 so that the lower surface 55 of the facing ring 54 will lie within the same plane as the lower surface 56 of the resilient base 41. The facing ring 54 is preferably made from a solvent resistant material having a low coefficient of friction and inherent lubricity, such as tetrafluoroethylene resin.

The spherical surface 48 (which is of sufficient magnitude to engage and seal the full perimeter 53 of the valve seat 42 when the valve means is closed) of the valve element 44 merges with a pair of spaced side walls, such as wall 58 depicted in FIG. 2, each of which has a semicircular opening 59 of a diameter at least equal to the diameter of the drain 29 and oriented in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the gudgeons 45 and 46 and such that an unobstructed passageway is provided beneath the drain 29 into the blending and pumping mechanism 20 when the valve element 44 is rotated to open the valve means 40.

In that embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIG. 2 the blending and pumping mechanism 20 is secured to the lower flange 16 on the pedestal 15. Specifically, a funnel spacer 60 depends beneath the pedestal and is secured thereto as by a mounting flange 61 interposed between the lower flange 16 on the pedestal 15 and the dais 18. The major opening 62 of the funnel spacer 60 is directed upwardly and registers with the cylindrical interior 63 of the pedestal '15. The minor opening 64 of the funnel spacer 60 is directed downwardly and communicates with the intake 65 of a centrifugal pump 66 carried on the lower extremity of the funnel spacer60 and powered by a fractional horse 68 supported on the housing 69 of pump 66.

The interior of the funnel spacer 60 tapers downwardly from the major opening 62 to the minor opening 64 in three conical tiers. The uppermost tier 70 forms a transitional cone that may well be inclined to approximately 45 to direct the waste material toward the central axis 71 of the funnel spacer 60 without forming a shelf that would tend to retain the waste. The transitional tier 70 also forms the upper wall of a blending chamber 72.

The middle tier 73 is inclined at a lesser angle with respect to a vertical reference in order to provide a greater capacity to the blending chamber and yet is provided with some taper in order to induce the currents that enhance the blending action. An inclination on the order of 30 with respect toa vertical frame of reference has been found quite satisfactory I It has been found that even though the inclinations of the upper and middle tiers 70 and 73 contribute to the formation of currents within the blending chamber 72 necessary to achieve the homogeneous slurry required,

efficiency may be even further enhanced by providing a.

plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs 74 on at least the middle tier 73 and, if desired, on the transitional tier 70, to interrupt any laminar flow that might exist adjacent the walls of the blending chamber which could entrain waste material and prevent it from being blended.

The third tier 75 circumscribes an input chamber 76 for the pump 66 and as such may be nearly vertical. However, a slight inclination on the order of 15 is disclosed in the preferred embodiment to accommodate a transition from the blending chamber 72 to the opening for the intake 65 of the pump 66.

As best seen in FIG. 3, a pump impeller 78 is carried on an impeller hub 79 that is secured to the shaft 80 of the motor 68, as be a set screw 81. Rotation of shaft 80 will, therefore, rotate the impeller 78 within the volute 82.

A cylindrical extension 83 of the hub 79 is received within an aligning bore 84 that extends axially through the collar portion 85 of a clutch means'90. The collar portion 85 is the power input member of the clutch means and is, therefore, secured to the hub extension 83, as bya set screw 91 that is received within a threaded bore 92 oriented radially through the wall of the clutch collar 85 on that side of the positioning flange 93 that is proximal to impeller hub 79. That portion of the clutch collar 85 that is distal the impeller hub 79 isprovided with a cylindrical clutch surface 94.

The power receiving portion of the clutch means 90 is a blender shaft 95 that has a cylindricalclutch surface 96 of the same diameter as the clutch surface 94 on the adjacent clutch collar 85. Alignment of the clutch surfaces 94 and 96 in adjacent proximity is achieved by a journal end 98 of reduced diameter on the blender shaft 95 that is rotatably received within the aligning bore 84 in the clutch collar 85.

A positioning flange 99 extends radially of the clutch surface 96 and is located in axially spaced relation to the positioning flange 93 on clutch collar 85 to confine a clutch spring 100 therebetween. That portion of the blender shaft 95 extending beyond the clutch surface 96 and on the opposite side of the positioning flange 93 is journaled in a stabilizing bearing 101 carried on a spider 102 secured within the funnel spacer 60. The spider 102 also presents an imperforate conical baffle 103 that defines the axially lowermost extent of the blending chamber 72. The necessity for the baffle 103 in the preferred embodiment of the invention is more fully hereinafter explained in conjunction with the description as to the operation of the subject system.

Axially beyond the spider 102 and the baffle 103, blenderv blades 104 are secured to the end of the blender shaft 95 to rotate within the blending chamber 72.

Having now provided the foregoing basic description of the major components in a preferred embodiment of the system 10, a brief description of its operation during which additional structural details can be included will assure a complete understanding of the concept embodied therein.

To initiate the flush cycle one swings the flush lever 52 to rotate the movable element 44 of the valve means 40 and open the drain 29. contemporaneously with the rotation of the movable element 44 a timer 105 is actuated to control the flush cycle. The timer 105 opens a valve 106 in the conduit 24 to admit flush fluid into the plenum 25 from which a major portion exits through apertures 26 to mix with the Waste and any residual flush fluid remaining in the bowl 14 after the previous flush cycle. It is this heterogeneous mixture of waste and liquid that is blended during the subsequent phase of the flush cycle. 7

Whereas a conventional water closet would require at least three gallons of water to effect a flush, only one or two cupfuls of water are necessary for flushing the toilet 1 1 into the system 10.

At substantially the same time as the timer 105 opens valve 106 it also trips a switch to start motor 68 and thereby initiate the blending portion of the flush cycle. In the preferred embodiment the motor 68 is reversible and the initial direction in which the motor shaft 80 turns rotates the impeller 78 contra the direction required for pumping. As the motor shaft 80 so rotates, the clutch collar 85 which is connected to the hub extension 83 turns in the same direction, and in that direction rotation of the clutch collar 85 augments the frictional engagement between the clutch spring 100 and the cylindrical clutch surface 94 on clutch collar 85 by tending to tighten the helical wraps of the spring 100. As the spring 100 thus tightens it also more firmly grips the clutch surface 96 on blender shaft 95 to rotate the blender blades 104.

Before continuing the discussion as to the blending portion of the flush cycle it should be understood that a small portion of the water input during the flush cycle may be used to clean the spherical outer surface 48 of the valve element 44. To effect this result a plurality of directing orifices 108 (FIG. 6) are spaced circumferentially along that arcuate portion of the seating edge 53 beneath which the outer surface 48 of the valve element 44 swings as the valve element is rotated by the flush lever 52. Thus, the water that feeds into the V-shaped seating edge 34 through the trap 32 is directed through the orifices 108 to wash the spherical outer surface 48 of the valve element 44. The remainder of the water, of course, enters the bowl primarily through the aperatures 26 that pierce the rim 22, but irrespective of the course along which the flush fluid flows, the entire volume required is considerably less than that necessary to flush a conventional toilet.

Returning now to the blending portion of the flush cycle, a typical flush might include 4 to 6% ounces of solid waste, 6 ounces of liquid waste, a quantity of a 0.12 horsepower, D.C. motor 68 is powered by a 6 or 12 volt battery will turn the blender blades at 16,000 to 17,000 r.p.m. Under typical loads this would draw approximately 22 amps on a twelve volt battery which for the short duration of the blending cycle, is not excessive. Because of the high speed at which the blender blades rotate, considerable turbulence is created, and for that reason it is desirable that the valve means 40 remain closed during the blending portion of the flush cycle; by sealing the drain 29 with the movable valve element 44 eruption of the material being blended upwardly through the drain 29 and into the bowl portion 14 is precluded.

Upon completion of the blending portion of the flush cycle the timer 105 signals the motor 68 to counterrotate shaft for the pumping portion of the flush cycle. The resulting counterrotation of the clutch collar applies a frictional contact to the clutch spring 100 that tends to expand its diameter and thereby loosen the grip with which the spring 100 embraces the clutch surface 96 on blender shaft so that the blender shaft 95 will slip with respect to rotation of the clutch collar 85.

Ideally rotation of the blender blades 104 would cease, but as a practical matter the slip clutch 90, while greatly reducing rotation of the blender blades, may not always preclude all rotation of the blades, and rotation of the blender blades 104 creates an exceptionally high degree of turbulence. In fact, it has been found that this turbulence will engender cavitation beneath the blades in the area of the pump intake 65. At the high speeds required for blending an efficient centrifugal pump would require an inordinate degree of close tolerance precision in the clearance between the impeller and the volute within which it rotates. By adopting clearances of sufficient magnitude that close tolerance precision in the manufacture of the pumps can be ignored, manufacturing costs can be minimized. Such pumps have been found to pump quite satisfactorily only so long as the intake remains flooded. For this reason, and, because it has been found effective in preventing cavitation therebeneath employment of an imperforate baffle 103 between the blending chamber 72 and the pump intake 65 is highly desirable.

Although the internal diameter of the conduit 13 that connects the toilet 11 to the holding tank 12 as well as the length of that conduit may vary, the time required to pump the homogeneous slurry from the toilet into the holding tank will generally be on the order of 15 to 20 seconds when pumping through a conduit having a /2 inch ID. and a run of approximately 10 feet.

It has also been found that the load on the motor 68 diminishes quite markedly between the blending and pumping portions of the flush cycle, and whereas 2022 amps may be drawn during the blending portion of the flush cycle, only 8 amps may be required during the pumping portion.

In many installations it may be more convenient to locate the holding tank at a level higher than the level of the toilet. Particularly for these installations a valve means 110 should be incorporated in conduit 13, and when the conduit 13 is made of a flexible material a pinch valve works quite well and may be operated, as by a solenoid, activated by the timer 105 to remain open contemporaneously with the pumping portion of the flush cycle.

Although the foregoing description has treated the blending and pumping portions of the flush cycle as being independent, sequential stages in order most efficiently to utilize a high speed, DC. motor of relatively low horsepower, one may, if desired, overlap the blending and pumping portions of the flush cycle. This result may be accomplished by utilizing a more efficient pump, and one that would not require a flooded intake. Such a pump, however, would require a higher horsepower motor. In order to overlap the blending and pumping portions of the flush cycle with such a pump, the use of a valve means 110 would be even more important to order to permit at least an initial blending action before the pumping action begins. The timer 105 could stage the opening of the valve means 110 in order to provide the lead time necessary for the desired, preliminary blending action.

In either event it has been found that because of the excellent sealing arrangement obtained by the valve element 44 against seat 42, a vent 11 1 (FIG. 2) must be provided through the pedestal 15. Venting beneath the valve means 40 facilitates evacuation of the waste during the pumping portion of the flush cycle. The vent 111 also contributes a second benefit by relieving any super atmospheric air pressure within the pedestal; otherwise, the pressure differential municates with the atmosphere through a conduit 112 that leads from the vent l 11 to an area remote from the toilet.

In an alternative form of the toilet apparatus, identified generally by the numeral 11A in FIG. 7, a construction is employed that obviates the necessity of the reversible motor 68 required by the specific embodiment disclosed in conjunction with the preferred form of the invention. The use of a reversible motor 68 with the preferred embodiment is necessitated because of the particular clutch means 90 detailed in FIG. 3. It is also quite feasible to interrupt rotation of the blender blades 104 without requiring retrorotation of the motor shaft 80 by adopting a more conventional clutch means (not shown) adapted for engagement and disengagement in responsse to an external control such as the timer 105.

In fact, according to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7 not only is the motor 68A unidirectional, but the motor shaft 80A may directly carry both the impeller 78A and the blender blades 104A without requiring a clutch means selectively to engage and disengage the blender blades 104A. This result is obtained by providing an enlarged intake chamber 76A and constricting the juncture of the blending and intake chambers 72A and 76A, respectively, into a throat 120 of substantially the same diameter as the blender blades 104A. The motor shaft 80A extends fully across the intake chamber 76A and is journaled through a bearing spider 102A supported to span the throat 120.

In this embodiment, too, the flush cycle is initiated by swinging the flush lever 52A to rotate the moveable element 44A of the valve means 40A and thereby open the drain 29A. Contemporaneously with this rotation of the valve element 44A the timer A is actuated to start the motor 68A and admit flush fluid into the bowl portion 14A of the toilet.

As the heterogeneous mixture of waste and flush fluid drops into the blending chamber 72A, the action of the rotating blender blades 104A maintains a considerable portion of the mixture within the blending chamber 72A. Of course, some fluid will pass beneath the blades 104A and through the throat into the intake chamber 76A from which it will be discharged by the action of the pump 66A. However, it has been found that as long as the blade means 104A are rotated at high speed even the homogeneous slurry resulting in chamber 72A from the blending action of rotating blade 104A will not readily flow from the blending chamber 72A into the intake chamber 76A if a throat 120 is provided. Accordingly, after a sufficient time to assure proper blending generally approximately 15 seconds the timer 105A interrupts the blending rotation of the blade means 104A by stopping motor 68A. This interruption permits the homogeneous slurry to drain from the blending chamber 72A, through the throat 120 and into the intake chamber 76A. Thereafter normally only about 5 seconds are required the timer 105A reactivates the motor 68A so that the pump 66A can transfer the slurry from the intake chamber 76A into the remote holding tank (not shown). Thereafter, the timer 105 disconnects the motor 68A to complete the flush cycle.

From the foregoing description it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that the concept disclosed herein provides an improved toilet apparatus for employment in a unique system to transfer sanitary waste from a toilet through a relatively small I.D. conduit to a remote holding tank by a novel method.

We claim:

1. A sewage handling system comprising, a holding tank, a toilet having a bowl portion with a drain, valve means selectively to open and close said drain, means for admitting flush fluid to said bowl portion, a blending chamber communicating with said bowl portion across said drain for receiving a heterogeneous mixture of waste material, blade means rotatably mounted in said blending chamber for blending said heterogeneous mixture into a homogeneous slurry, pump means, said pump means having an intake communicating with said blending chamber and having an outlet, an imperforate baffle means interposed between said blending chamber and said intake to prevent cavitation therebeneath, a conduit connected between the outlet of said pump and said holding tank, common motor means to power both said blade means and said pump means and means selectively to interrupt blending rotation of said blade means to facilitate the operation of said pump means subsequently to the interruption of the blending rotation of said blade means.

2. A sewage handling system, as set forth in claim l,= in which the means to interrupt blending rotation of said blade means comprises, a clutch means to effect selective connection between said blade means and said motor means while the driving connection between said pump means and said motor means is maintained.

Claims (2)

1. A sewage handling system comprising, a holding tank, a toilet having a bowl portion with a drain, valve means selectively to open and close said drain, means for admitting flush fluid to said bowl portion, a blending chamber communicating with said bowl portion across said drain for receiving a heterogeneous mixture of waste material, blade means rotatably mounted in said blending chamber for blending said heterogeneous mixture into a homogeneous slurry, pump means, said pump means having an intake communicating with said blending chamber and having an outlet, an imperforate baffle means interposed between said blending chamber and said intake to prevent cavitation therebeneath, a conduit connected between the outlet of said pump and said holding tank, common motor means to power both said blade means and said pump means and means selectively to interrupt blending rotation of said blade means to facilitate the operation of said pump means subsequently to the interruption of the blending rotation of said blade means.

2. A sewage handling system, as set forth in claim 1, in which the means to interrupt blending rotation of said blade means comprises, a clutch means to effect selective connection between said blade means and said motor means while the driving connection between said pump means and said motor means is maintained.

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