US20160177556A1

US20160177556A1 - Gravity Drained, Waste Management Mechanism

Info

Publication number: US20160177556A1
Application number: US14/865,269
Authority: US
Inventors: Arnold Molina
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-09-10
Filing date: 2015-09-25
Publication date: 2016-06-23
Also published as: US9145668B2; US20120066826A1

Abstract

My invention for replacing the flush toilet and water closet, utilizes a slipjoint water trap that is a distinct and separate moving part of the toilet bowl. First the pathway of the trap is re-configured as in drawing #3. Then the slipjoint water trap is connected to the toilet bowl using two slipjoint connectors. The bowl outlet mates with the trap inlet and the trap outlet mates with the waste depository inlet. The faces of these four lets are all parallel to each other in both dimensions and share a common axis. A cable mechanism can then be installed to rotate the slipjoint trap down 90 degrees from the vertical. This will establish an inclined pathway to the sewer, all waste will then flow down stream, by the force of gravity exerted on the waste itself. In effect I lower the weir of the trap instead of raising the waste.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

I do here claim the benefits of my previously filed, provisional utility patent application #61/403,129 filing date: Sep. 10, 2010 entitled “TANKLESS FLUSHLESS TOILET”. I do claim this application as the corresponding non-provisional patent application completing the application for this newly named invention the “GRAVITY DRAINED, WASTE MANAGEMENT MECHANISM”.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

“This Section not Applicable”

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING

“This Section not Applicable”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Every plumbing fixture in service must be provided with a water seal to block sewer gases from coming up through the plumbing system A14, and entering the building through the plumbing fixtures A1 the water closet or A15 the lavatory sink.
Most plumbing fixtures nave the water seal provided. by a P-trap A27 made of drainage fittings, connected to the drain A16 at the bottom of the fixture as in the lavatory sink A15. Waste passes through the drain A16, to the tail piece A17, and into the P-trap.
The water seal is the hatched area in the P-trap, beginning at the weir of the water seal A18 at the inlet of the trap and going down to A19 the lowest point in the trap and water. seal, then to A20 the weir of the water seal at the outlet of the trap. The waste then goes over the weir of the trap A21 and through the dirty arm A22 and enters A23 the inlet branch of the sanitary-tee.
The inlet then sweeps down 90 degrees in an arc to A24 the waste outlet branch of the sanitary-tee where the waste enters the sewer system. The third branch of the sanitary-tee is the vent branch A25 and it combines with the vent branch of the toilet A12 and travels vertically up through the roof where the vent A26 terminates and the sewer gases are allowed to dissipate harmlessly in the open atmosphere above the building.
The toilet however does not have it's water seal provided by a P-trap constructed of drainage fittings connected to the toilet at the bottom of the fixture as the sink in A15 does in FIG. 1. But has it's water seal provided by an internal water trap, incorporated in the casting of the toilet bowl itself. As is identified by the hatched area of the toilet bowl in FIG. 1 & FIG. 2.
In these drawings A2 ident. the weir of the water seal in the toilet bowl, A3 ident. the lowest point of the water seal in the water trap of the toilet bowl and A4 ident. the weir of the water seal in the water trap of the toilet bowl. And A7 is the weir of the water trap itself. A1 ident. the toilet bowl itself and A5 the toilet tank itself.
After passing through the toilet howl A1 and the waste depository A9, the waste is deposited vertically into the closet bend A10, which is connected to the bottom of the toilet bowl. This drainage fitting has no water trap and provides no water
But it conveys the waste to the inlet branch A11 of the sanitary-tee, the waste then passes through A13 the outlet branch of the sanitary-tee and into the sewer system A14.
For over 200 years water closets have been flushed with water from toilet tanks A5 and flushometer valves, which use the hydro-mechanics of flushing to push the contents of the toilet bowl through the internal water trap A6, and over the weir of the water trap A7, now following the arrows A8 through the water trap to the waste depository A9.
Leaving the bottom of the toilet the contents are deposited into the closet bend A10, which conveys the waste to the inlet branch A11 of the sanitary-tee and down into the sewer system A14. In effect flushing raises the waste over the weir of the trap in-order to flow down hill to the sewer. And A12 is the vent branch of the sanitary-tee.
In the field of reducing the amount of water used to accomplish this function of draining the contents of the toilet bowl, all efforts have been focused on improving the efficiency of the flushing action. And no effort in finding a more efficient mechanism to accomplish this critical function.
Only the force of gravity exerted on the waste itself is needed to drain a tub a shower or a kitchen sink, and there must be a more efficient means to drain the contents of the toilet. Certainly sewer gases must be prevented from entering the building, and the water seal maintained. But pushing the waste up-hill makes no sense. There must be a way and means of using the force of gravity to our advantage.
If I deposit 2 Onces of waste then use 200 onces of clean potable water to flush it to the sewer that makes no sense and is totally in-efficient. There must be a way and means of using the force of gravity to drain the waste down hill. Like it does for all other plumbing fixtures, instead of fighting gravity up-hill, the way it does with the water closet.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

If I take a tall glass of water and hold it vertically the water stays in the glass. But when I turn the glass 90 degrees from the vertical to the horizontal position the water drains from the glass needing only the force of gravity exerted on the water itself.
My invention for replacing the flush toilet or the water closet is the gravity drained, waste management mechanism, this mechanism has no water tank and does not flush, the draining cycle needs no flush to clear the bowl and trap of waste. In toilets flushing only pushes the contents of the bowl through the trap 6 and over the weir of the trap 7. It's this up and over that is the problem, it's fighting against gravity. Instead my design uses gravity to empty the waste by lowering the weir of the trap below the lowest point in the water seal 3. The water seal is that part of the trap that is ident. by hatching, starting at 2, down to 3 and up to 4.
The means by which I accomplish lowering the weir of the trap, is by isolating the water trap from the toilet bowl and casting it separately. i reconfigure the pathway 8 of the trap to resemble a question mark on it's side. So now instead of the pathway to the sewer going down the bowl up the trap and down into the sewer, as in FIG. # 1, The new pathway goes down up and around. The new slipjoint water trap is then connected to the toilet bowl using two slipjoint connectors 19 & 20. The toilet bowl outlet 10 mates with the slipjoint water trap inlet 13 and the slipjoint water trap outlet 17 mates with the waste depository inlet 14. The faces of these four lets faces 11 & 12 and faces 15 & 16 is each parallel to the others and shares a common axis 18. This designed arrangement of the toilet bowl and the slipjoint water trap allows the trap to rotate on it's common axis 90 degrees from the vertical and in doing so it dis-establishes the weir of the trap. Without a weir the contents does not dam up, but flows downhill all the way through the toilet to the sewer system, without flushing, needing only the force of gravity exerted on the contents itself to flow downhill. JUST LIKE THE GLASS OF WATER!!!
The mechanism I have designed to accomplish the function of rotating the slipjoint water trap is a long handle firmly attached to the back of the toilet bowl, about 10″ above the floor, this is the pivot point 30 of the handle. 2″ above the floor the draw down cable attaches to the handle. When the handle is moved counter clockwise the cable 26 is drawn through the two cable guides 27 & 28, these, features can be seen in FIG. 6 and this movement draws down the slipjoint water trap so that it rotates on it's common axis and the draining function is accomplished. Releasing handle allows return spring mechanism 22 to return the slipjoint water trap to the vertical position and the water seal can then be re-established, by the toilet handle triggering the water supply valve to release water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Is an elevation side view of a toilet bowl. Showing the common design used by all toilets. Having the water seal provided by a water trap that is an integral part of the casting of the toilet bowl.

FIG. 2 Is an isometric drawing of rough-in drainage piping provided to a lavatory sink and for the water closet. FIGS. 1 & 2 help provide background for the invention and the prior state of the technology.

FIG. 3 Is a side elevation view of my design for the improvement of the water closet. And shows my two innovative changes to the toilet bowl. The pathway taken by the water trap to reach the sewer is reconfigured. Then the water trap is a separated and distinct piece caste separately from the toilet bowl designed to be connected to the bowl along the common axis 18.

FIG. 4 Is the same bowl with all the other necessary components to complete the improvement, showing the slipjoint water trap in the vertical position and the water seal established.

FIG. 5 Is the same bowl viewed from just above and slightly infront. This perspective view of my design shows the slipjoint water trap in the lowered position during the draining cycle.

FIG. 6 Is a perspective view of my design taken from slightly above and slightly to the rear. This view shows all the components and there position during the draining cycle.

FIG. 7 Is an enlarged detailed view of the slipjoint connector.

FIG. 8 Is a sectional view of the slipjoint connector in FIG. 7 viewed from sectional view markings labeled FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

All plumbing fixtures are required to have water seals provided to each plumbing fixture, to prevent sewer gases from rising up through the plumbing and entering the building. The common method for providing water seal protection for a lavatory basin is illustrated in FIG. 2. The lavatory basin A15 has a drain A16 and A17 is the tail piece between the drain at the bottom of the vessel and the p-trap A27. The hatched area of the p-trap is the water seal A28. The p-trap is made of drainage fittings connected to the bottom of the vessel, and provide both the water trap and water seal for the fixture. This is similar in almost all other fixtures.
However the water closet is the exception. It's water trap & water seal are not provided by drainage fittings connected to the bottom of the vessel, but have an internal water trap A6 and water seal A29 provided by the toilet bowl itself. In the prior art over the last 50 years, most toilets have been cast in porcelain and designed with an internal tubular pathway to provide the water trap A6 and water seal A29, as is illustrated in FIGS. 1 & 2 the water trap & water seal start in the toilet bowl at the weir of the water seal A2 and travel down to the lowest point in the water seal A3, then up to the weir of the water seal in the water trap A4. The pathway of the water trap continues over the weir of the trap A7 and following the arrows of A8 continues down to A9 the waste depository, through the bottom of the toilet bowl and into the closet bend A10 the first drainage fitting it reaches.
It is the trap of the toilet bowl that requires toilets to be flushed with 1½ gals. of clean portable water to convey the contents of the howl and trap to the sewer system A14. Flushing pushes the contents of the toilet down the bowl, up the trap A6 and over the weir A7 of the trap. In effect flushing raises the waste higher then the weir of the trap A7. It's all downhill from there, it is the raising of the waste that requires the wasteful use of so much clean water.
The replacement I have designed for the toilet, uses a slipjoint water trap 6, this trap is not an internal, integral part of the casting of the toilet bowl. But is a separate and distinct piece that is cast separately, it is tubular in design and configured similar to a question mark on its back (
) the tubular trap is then connected to the toilet bowl by two slipjoint connectors 19 & 20. It is this slipjoint water trap that provides the means by which the contents of the toilet can be drained off into the sewer without flushing the toilet.
The embodiment of my replacement for the toilet is the slipjoint water trap 6 which when rotated 90 degrees from the vertical allows the contents of the toilet bowl and trap to be drained off into the sewer system A14. In effect I have designed a means of lowering the weir 7 of the water trap instead of raising the waste. No flushing is necessary and no toilet tank needed. It is the force of gravity exerted on the waste itself that draws the waste into the sewer system, once the trap is rotated 90 degrees from the vertical the trap weir 7 is now below the lowest point in the water seal point 3. Under these circumstances the weir has been eliminated and the waste has no place to dam up.
The slipjoint water trap 6 is connected to the toilet bowl by 2 slipjoint connectors 19 & 20. Each slipjoint connector has five separate parts. Each has three rubber seals 40, 41 & 44. Each also has two sheet metal bands 42 & 43. Band 42 has three clamps 36, 37 & 38, band 43 has only one clamp 39 all this is illustrated in FIG. 8.
In assembling the fixture the barrel of the toilet bowl outlet 10 mates up with the barrel of the slipjoint water trap inlet 13. and the barrel of the slipjoint water trap outlet 17 mates up with the barrel of the waste depository inlet 14.
The four faces of the lets 11, 12, 15 & 16 all share a common axis, this common axis tilts 2% downhill from the horizontal, And each face of the lets is perpendicular in both dimensions to the common axis 18.
This arrangement insures that the slipjoint water vtrap will be in full, firm, and complete contact at all times with the toilet bowl lets, even during the rotation function of the slipjoint water trap.
In assembling the fixture the smaller of the two tube shaped seals 44 of each connector is fitted to the slipjoint water trap. The larger of the two tube shaped seals 40 of each connector is fitted to the toilet bowl lets. The first seal 40 is fitted to the barrel of the toilet bowl outlet 10 and the first seal 44 is fitted to the barrel of the water trap inlet 13. The third seal of each connector is the donut shaped seal 41 it fits in-between the two tube shaped seals in the slipjoint area of the connector where it bridges the gap between the two ends.
The second seal 44 is fitted to the barrel of the water trap outlet 17 and the second seal 40 is fitted to the barrel of the waste depository inlet 14 then the second seal 41 is fitted in the slipjoint area of the second connector.
The slipjoint side of the first connector is firmly attached to the barrel of the water trap inlet 13 by band 43 and hose clamp 39. This connection is stationary in relation to the water trap, so that as the water trap 6 rotates, so does this side of the connection. And that part of the trap inlet 13 and that part of seal 44 that is not under the band 43 and hose clamp 39 has a male orientation so that it slips inside the slipjoint center of the connector. The side of the connector designed to receive and enclose the water trap inlet, is connected to the barrel of the toilet bowl outlet 10 by seal 40, band 42 and by hose clamps 36, 37 & 38. This side of the connection does not rotate with the water trap, but remains stationary at all times in relation to the toilet bowl outlet.
The two clamps 37 & 38 around the slipjoint area of the connector are only snuged down enough to hold a water tight fit, but soft enough to allow for the rotation of the slipjoint water trap. The interior surfaces of the seals in the slipjoint area of the connector will be lubricated with a non-petroleum based lubricant, to premote rotation of the slipjoint water trap. Disassembly of the connectors and removal of the trap will allow for inspection, service and/or replacement of the water trap.
the toilet assembly begins with the toilet bowl 1 and the slipjoint water trap 6. The bowl of the toilet has an outlet 10 and a waste depository inlet 14. The toilet bowl outlet 10 mates up with the slipjoint water trap inlet 13 and the waste depository inlet 14 mates up with the slipjoint water trap outlet 17.
We connect the slipjoint water trap to the toilet bowl using two slipjoint connectors. The first connector 19 is used to join the water trap inlet 13 to the toilet bowl outlet 10 with the slipjoint side of the connector fitted to the water trap inlet 13. The second connector 20 is used to join the water trap outlet 17 to the waste depository inlet 14 of the toilet bowl, with the slipjoint side of the connector fitted to the water trap outlet.
Once the toilet bowl 1 and the slipjoint water trap 6 are assembled a ziplock strap 24 is attached to the top of the trap, the strap has two connection loops one on the side of the trap closest to the body of the toilet bowl where the return spring mechanism 22 is connected to one loop 23 and the other end of the spring is attached to the bowl at 21 the other loop of the strap is connected to the draw down cable 26 at loop 25.
When the trap is rotated counter clock-wise towards the floor, to 90 degrees from the vertical during the draining function the return spring mechanism 22 will return the trap back to the vertical position, once the handle is released.
The draw down cable 26 is the mechanism used to rotate the slipjoint water trap 6 counter clock-wise 90 degrees from the vertical. In rotating the slipjoint water trap the weir of the trap is being lowered, when the slipjoint water trap is rotated 90 degrees from the vertical the weir and the water trap are temporarily eliminated, dis-established or become non-existent and the waste does not dam up. During this draining function the lowest point in the water seal 3 has now become a high point in the incline pathway to the sewer system.
In effect I have devised a mechanism that lowers the weir of the trap below the water seal so that the entire pathway from the bottom of the bowl to the sewer has a 2% incline and the fixture empties with only the force of gravity everted on the waste itself.
Lowering the weir 7 of the slipjoint water trap 6 below the water seal 5, instead of raising the waste above the weir 7 of the trap 6, is accomplished by rotating the slipjoint water trap on it's common axis 18. The draw down cable 26 is attached at one end to the loop 25 of the zip-lock strap 24. The cable then runs down towards the floor to and through the first cable guide 27. Then through the second cable guide 28. Where it turns towards the back of the toilet and using the fastener 29 attaches to the toilet handle 35. About half way up the toilet handle is the fastener 30 that secures the toilet handle to the back of the toilet. And also serves as a pivot point for the handle to engage the draw down cable 26.
When the top of the toilet handle is moved counter clock-wise the cable is drawn through the cable guides and pulls the top of the slipjoint water trap down towards the floor, until it reaches 90 degrees from the vertical. After draining the toilet bowl the handle is released and the return spring mechanisms 22 & 32 draw the slipjoint water trap and toilet handle back to the vertical position.
The second return spring mechanism 32 is secured to the back of the toilet bowl at one end 31 and the other end of the spring attaches to the toilet bowl handle 35, above the pivot point 30. Where it draws the handle back to the vertical position once the draining function is complete and the handle is released.
The water valve 34 is mounted at the back of the toilet. When the handle is in the vertical position the valve and valve trigger are right up against the toilet bowl handle 35. When the handle is moved counter clock-wise the valve 34 opens and feeds water to the toilet bowl, to rinse the face of the bowl while the toilet is draining.
Once the handle is released the return spring mechanism 32 draws the handle back to the vertical position and return spring mechanism 22 returns the slipjoint water trap back to the vertical, but the water valve 34 remains open and continues to feed water to the toilet bowl until the water seal 5 (IN THE HATCH AREA OF FIG. 4) is re-established in the toilet bowl and slipjoint water trap.
The face of the barrel of the toilet bowl outlet 11, the face of the barrel of the slipjoint water trap inlet 12, the face of the barrel of the water trap outlet 16 and the face of the barrel of the waste depository inlet 15 are all perpendicular in both dimensions to the common axis 18.

Claims

1. I claim gravity is the force of nature that my mechanism uses to convey the waste down stream to the sewer, and not the hydro mechanics of flushing that all toilets and water closets have used since the 16th century.

I claim that in the vertical position the slipjoint water trap provides a dam that establishes a water trap and water seal. When the trap is rotated 90 degrees from the vertical the dam, water trap and water seal are all eliminated by lowering the weir of the trap lower Than the waste it serves.

I claim that once the slipjoint water trap is rotated 90 degrees from the vertical the trap transitions into a tubular inclined pathway for the waste to flow down stream to the sewersystem.

I claim the slipjoint connectors hold a water tight seal, but allow the trap to rotate on it's common axis.

2. I claim the slipjoint water trap, all it's components, it's design, and method of operation.

I claim that both the inlet and outlet of the sipjoint trap face in the same direction opposite those of the toilet bowl, and that the tubular trap has a general shape similar to a question mark on it's side, that the faces of these four lets are perpendicular in both dimensions to the common axis.

I claim that the connectors are a critical component holding a water tight fit around the barrels of the lets, but allowing the trap to rotate on it's common axis.

I claim that the slipjoint water trap is a mechanical device whos effect on and the result of it's service to the mechanism is that the waste received is conveyed to the sewer system.

I claim that the trap has a duel function, duel purpose, and two positions it assumes in it's service to the mechanism. And that that service is circular in it's service to the mechanism switching back and forth, in the vertical it establishes the water dam at the weir of the trap and provides the mechanism with a water trap and water seal, and in the horizontal it drains the waste.

I claim that the slipjoint water trap is a separate and distinct piece and is caste separately, then connected to the toilet bowl by two slipjoint connectors.

3. I claim that the slipjoint connectors, all it's components, it's design, and method of operation.

I claim that the connectors have two different sides one with a male orientation, and the other with a female orientation. the male side engages the other side and is enclosed by it. The male side has a metal band with one hose clamp attached, and is stationary in relation to the trap. The female side has a metal band with three hose clamps and is stationary in relation to the toilet bowl, and encloses around the male side and creates a slipjoint area in the connector.

I claim that the slipjoint connectors have a third donut shaped seal that engages the other two seals in the slipjoint area of the connectors and offers a third opportunity to provide a water tight seal.

I claim that the slipjoint connectors can be disconnected and trap removed for inspection, service or replacement of trap.