GB2384009A

GB2384009A - Toilet ventilation assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2384009A
Application number: GB0200764A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Godfrey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-01-15
Filing date: 2002-01-15
Publication date: 2003-07-16
Also published as: GB0200764D0

Abstract

A perforated ring (3, Fig 4) mounted between a toilet seat 2 and the toilet rim, draws unwanted odours from the inner surface of the rim via a small vacuum. The vacuum is generated by the low voltage vacuum system (pump) 5. Unwanted odours are transferred to either to the sewer network via the gland 8 and the toilet trap or to the atmosphere via an outside wall 11. Odours are prevented from returning to the odour source by the two non-return valves 7. The system may turn on and off automatically by the pressure transducer/switch 9 detecting the presence of a person in the seated position.

Description

VACUUM RIM This invention relates to any standard toilet that is commonly found in any household, public place or convenience. It does not relate to the urinal type fixtures generally found in male public conveniences.

It is a naturally occurring problem that with all toilets, bathrooms, public lavatories etc, unwanted odours exists. These odours are still present in toilets that use wall/ceiling extract fans to remove them because the extract units are often placed to far from the source of the odour. The room in which the toilet is placed is filled with contaminated air before the extract unit gets to work. Air fresheners tend to fail also as they only mask the smell not remove the contaminant.

The object of this invention is to capture the odours very close to the odour source and direct them away, without returning them to the room in which they where generated. The invention has been designed not to allow odours to be dissipated to any other room in the building also.

Accordingly, this invention utilises a small negative air space (Vacuum) that is generated between the toilet seat and the toilet rim. The vacuum albeit small encompasses the whole of the seat circumference forming a ring, ensuring that no area is left free. The vacuum draws air from the inner toilet circumference only and not the outer rim. All odours generated in this small area are quickly drawn straight into the negative air space generated directly under the seat.

The vacuum system directs the contaminated air via a one way system using special valves either to an outside wall or beneath the water level on the toilets own trap system i. e. the sewer network.

The final destination of the impregnated air would only depend on the location of the toilet itself and the toilet type.

The vacuum ring would be fitted either to the underside of the seat or on top of the toilets rim.

For retro fitting purposes to an existing appliance, the seat would be the preferred option.

The following sections outline in detail the design of the system and constantly refer to figures on pages 1/2 and 2/2 of the diagram pages. Numbers in Bold refer to the specific features of the design: FIGURE 1: Shows a standard toilet with the Vacuum system fitted. It also illustrates the two possibilities of the final destination air being the trap or the outside wall. The detail of the figure is now explained below : A standard toilet is used and depicted are the standard features found on them, such as the Cistern 1, the top seat 10, main seat 2 and the seat spacers 6.

The vacuum is generated by the low voltage, battery powered, pump system 5. The system draws air via the connecting flexible pipe 4, through small holes in the vacuum ring 3. This ring (Section shown in Figure 4) which is positioned on the underside of the seat 2 and on the inner side of the seat spacers 6, draws air/odour from around the toilet rim.

Pipe 4 would have to be flexible to allow the raising and lowering the seat 2 without damaging the system.

The negative air pressure drawn around the rim will only be large enough to pull airborne odours. This prevents any other material entering the system.

The air mixture containing the contaminants is then directed via a pipe, containing two nonreturn valves 7 to either an outside wall 11 or the sewer network. The non-return valves prevent any gases, at a positive pressure higher than that of the delivery side of the pump 5, returning to the toilet/room. In the case of the sewer option the connection to the trap is made by gland 8 and is made under the water level which also prevents sewer gasses returning. Non-return valves would also be used if the final connection was the outside wall 11 to prevent atmospheric pressures overcoming the delivery system 5.

The actual system will be turned on and off automatically when a person sits on the seat 2. One of the standard seat spacers is removed and replaced by a simple micro/pressure switch 9, which monitories the toilet user and when a mass greater than that of the sum of following objects is detected the system automatically turns on, and visa-versa.

System ON = Mass detected on Switch 9 > Mass Sum of Objects 2+3+ (3*6) +9+10 System OFF = Mass detected on Switch 9 < Mass Sum of Objects 2+3+ (3*6) +9+10 The inclusion of the top seat lid 10 in the above calculation allows the top seat to be placed without the system activating.

FIGURE 2: Simply shows the whole vacuum system as if removed from the toilet, it does not depict the pressure switch 9 or the connecting cable to the vacuum system 5 which would be run adjacent to or inside the ring 3 and connecting pipe 4. It does depict the Vacuum ring, connecting pipe, generation unit, glands and the one way delivery system.

The pump system 5 utilises a low voltage rechargeable battery power pack to reduce the risk of electric shock and sparking, which may ignite stray gases.

FIGURE 3: Shows the actual position of the vacuum ring 3 in relation to the seat 2 and the seat spacers 6 as described in the above. The connecting pipe 4 to the vacuum system 5 and the pressure switch 9 are also clearly depicted.

FIGURE 4: Shows a section of the Vacuum ring 3 here, the holes along the one edge that would face the inner rim can be clearly seen.

FIGURE 5: Illustrates the same solution to the given problem but with the ring secured to the toilets rim rather than to the seat itself 2. The function however is identical as the seat mounted arrangement but would be a preferred option for new installations as the flexible pipe 4 between ring 3 and Vacuum system 5 would be unnecessary.

FIGURE 6: The final figure shows the overall system as viewed from above, it illustrates the removal of methane vapours via the vacuum ring. All other components are depicted.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A Vacuum rim system for toilets that removes odours very close to the odour source via a perforated ring and prevents them from returning to the source area through the use of a one way system.
2. The system as claimed in Claim 1 where the ring producing the vacuum is mounted between the toilet seat and the toilet rim.
3. The delivery side of the system as claimed in Claim 1 where two non-return valves prevent the return of sewer type gases to the odour source.

4. The system as claimed in Claim 3 where unwanted odours and gases are delivered either to the sewer system via the toilet trap or tothe outside world via a connection to an outside wall.
4. The system as claimed in Claim 1 where automatic turn on and automatic turn off are provided by the use of pressure transducers to detect person present in the seated position.
5. A system as claimed in any proceeding claim which is made from metal, plastics material or a combination of these materials.
6. A vacuum system for the removal of toilet odours substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.