Toilet system

Abstract

Toilet system with several toilets (2), each of which is connected to a wastewater collection tank (3) via wastewater pipes (5) and / or a wastewater collection pipe (4), so that the wastewater from the toilets (2) can be fed into the wastewater collection tank (3) and thereby a pressure vessel (1) is connected to a wastewater pipe (5) and / or the wastewater collection pipe (4) such that pressurized gas and / or a liquid flows in the form of a pressure surge through most of all wastewater pipes (5) and / or the wastewater collection pipe (4) into the wastewater collection tank (3) when at least one controllable first valve (1.1) on the pressure vessel (1) is open and the product of the internal volume of the pressure vessel and the relative pressure in the pressure vessel (1) is greater than the internal volume of all wastewater pipes (5) and the wastewater collection pipe (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a toilet system. The toilet system can preferably be used in mobile applications and operated with negative pressure support. The toilets used in this case can be so-called vacuum toilets.

[0002] Manufacturers of toilet systems for mobile use, particularly in rail vehicles, are faced with extreme situations in various applications regarding the installation of the wastewater pipe from the toilet bowl to a wastewater collection tank. Long pipe runs, insufficient or sometimes no gradient at all or even an incline in a wastewater pipe to the wastewater collection tank, and an undefined number of diversions significantly complicate the requirements. Further complicating factors, for example, when using toilet systems in sleeping cars, can be the fact that a large number of toilets are connected via a small number of wastewater pipes and there are few users at the same time. Despite these conditions, the toilet system manufacturers must ensure safe discharge over a long period of time.Blockages or deposits in the sewage pipes between the toilets and the wastewater collection tank should be avoided or easily removed.

[0003] For example, DE 10 2009 009 938 B4 describes a device for cleaning drinking water or wastewater pipes in vehicles. It uses a piping system through which a gas or gas mixture is used intermittently in the form of controlled pulses for cleaning.

[0004] DE 198 34 537 A1 concerns a vacuum toilet system for vehicles that enables controlled flushing of several vacuum toilets.

[0005] US 2009 / 0 078 285 A1 relates to a method and device for lines of a vacuum system in which acid and bacteria are transported to the end of a vacuum line. This is to be achieved by means of controllable pumps by maintaining a predetermined pressure in the vacuum line.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a toilet system that can be operated safely over longer periods of time without the need for complex maintenance work and that can prevent or easily remove blockages or deposits in wastewater pipes between toilets and a wastewater collection tank without requiring manual intervention in the wastewater pipe system of the toilet system.

[0007] According to the invention, this object is achieved with a toilet system having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be realized with features defined in subordinate claims.

[0008] For use under these conditions, a toilet system is proposed in which the conventional flushing process is supported by a time- and / or usage-dependent compressed air and / or liquid pulse at increased pressure from a separate pressure vessel.

[0009] The product of the pressure vessel's internal volume and the relative pressure in the pressure vessel should be at least as large as, and preferably greater than, the volume (standard liters) of all wastewater pipes through which the wastewater is to be discharged into the wastewater collection tank. In other words, this means that a gas, in particular air, and / or a liquid, in particular water (preferably gray water), is / are contained in the pressure vessel with a volume that, under normal ambient pressure conditions (atmospheric pressure), is at least as large as the internal volume of all wastewater pipes between the toilets in the toilet system and the central wastewater collection tank for these toilets. It is well known that the volume of gases, in particular, increases when pressure is reduced. This can be achieved by opening a first controllable valve on the pressure vessel. Accordingly, a smaller volume is required for a pressure vessel that can only be filled with compressed gas.

[0010] However, the internal volume of the pressure vessel can also be larger than required to trigger a single pressure surge and thereby achieve cleaning of the sewer lines. After the first valve is closed, at least one second valve located on the pressure vessel can be opened by the control system to sufficiently or completely fill the pressure vessel. Once a sufficient amount of gas and / or liquid has been absorbed into the pressure vessel at a sufficient pressure, the second valve can be closed.

[0011] As already mentioned, the valves on the pressure tank can be operated by a control system. The opening of the first valve can occur depending on a predefined number of uses of the toilets in the toilet system. The number of uses of individual toilets can be evaluated differently. For example, the number of uses of a toilet furthest from the wastewater collection tank or one located in an unfavorable branch of the sewer line can be evaluated with a factor greater than "one," while other toilet uses can only be considered individually if a predefined number of uses is to be used to control the opening of the first valve.

[0012] The opening of a first valve on the pressure vessel can also be triggered, either alone or in addition, after a predefined time interval has elapsed or after a rail vehicle has reached a destination. For example, pressure surges can be initiated at least once a day, after reaching a destination station, or before each start-up after a longer period of inactivity during which the toilet system according to the invention was not in active use. Reaching a destination and start-up are examples of events that can trigger the opening of a first valve.

[0013] A first valve can also be opened if no or a reduced amount of wastewater has been fed into the wastewater collection tank within a specified time interval, which may indicate a buildup or blockage in a wastewater or the wastewater collection line. For this purpose, a level sensor in the wastewater collection tank, which is monitored over time, can be used, for example.

[0014] At least one sensor should be present in / on the pressure vessel, allowing, for example, condition monitoring or operational control. This can, in particular, be a sensor for determining the internal pressure.

[0015] A sensor should be connected to the control system for opening and closing the first and second valves. This allows the filling of the pressure vessel and, if the pressure vessel is sufficiently large, also the refilling up to a desired, predefined internal pressure to be controlled. If the internal pressure falls below a minimum, at least one second valve can be opened to restore the predefined minimum internal pressure.

[0016] In addition, or alone, a temperature sensor can be present on the pressure vessel, which can also take into account different temperatures during filling and operation.

[0017] A first valve can be opened and closed by a central control system to initiate a pressure surge into the sewer pipes and then close the valve again.

[0018] A modified toilet control system enables the effective use of the contents of the pressure tank for all toilets connected to a common wastewater collection line. The pressure tank should be located near the toilet furthest from the wastewater collection tank and connected to its wastewater line or close to the wastewater collection line there. Differences in the travel time of the pressure wave to more distant toilets can be compensated for by an electronic control system. The toilet system according to the invention has improved energy efficiency compared to systems with a central vacuum, in which a relatively high negative pressure must be maintained in almost all wastewater lines between the individual toilets and the wastewater collection tank, since the pressure tank can be operated, used, or dimensioned accordingly as needed.

[0019] An additional supply line with an additional valve can be connected to the pressure vessel, through which gas or liquid can be supplied. This allows separate supply of gas and liquid to the pressure vessel. For example, a liquid can be filled into the pressure vessel without pressure and a gas can be filled under pressure until a specified internal pressure is reached.

[0020] A pressure vessel can be filled or refilled via a dedicated compressor or via a central compressed air supply.

[0021] It is also possible to connect the pressure vessel to the wastewater and / or sewage collection line via multiple lines at different locations. A separately controllable first valve can be installed in each line, so that depending on the opening of a first valve, gas and / or liquid flows more strongly through other areas of the wastewater and / or sewage line(s). This can also be controlled based on usage after a predefined number of uses of the individual toilets has been reached.

[0022] The invention will be explained in more detail below by way of example.

[0023] It shows: Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an example of a toilet system according to the invention.

[0024] In the Fig.In the example shown in Figure 1, five vacuum toilets 2 are connected via wastewater pipes 5 and a wastewater collection pipe 4 to a wastewater collection tank 3, into which the wastewater from the toilets 2 and, if applicable, other process water is directed and collected.

[0025] In this example, the wastewater collection line 4 is connected to a pressure vessel 1, which in turn can be connected to a compressed air system of a rail vehicle via the supply line 6 and closed with the second valve 1.2 when a sufficient internal pressure has been reached in the pressure vessel 1.

[0026] As explained in the general part of the description, the first valve 1.1 can be opened when a predetermined number of toilet uses has been reached or an event has occurred. The pressure vessel 1 can be completely emptied, so that the gas volume contained therein, after pressure relief, corresponds at least to the internal volume of all wastewater pipes 5 and the wastewater collection pipe 4. This allows at least a nearly complete flow through all pipe cross-sections to be achieved, which in turn can lead to the removal of deposits and blockages, which are discharged into the wastewater collection tank 3 by the pressure surge.

Claims

[1] Toilet system with several toilets (2), each of which is connected to a wastewater collection tank (3) via wastewater pipes (5) and / or a wastewater collection pipe (4), so that the wastewater from the toilets (2) can be fed to the wastewater collection tank (3) and a pressure vessel (1) is connected to a wastewater pipe (5) and / or the wastewater collection pipe (4), so that pressurised gas and / or a liquid flows in the form of a pressure surge through the majority of all wastewater pipes (5) and / or the wastewater collection pipe (4) into the wastewater collection tank (3) when at least one controllable first valve (1.1) on the pressure vessel (1) is open and the product of the pressure vessel internal volume and the relative pressure in the pressure vessel (1) is greater than the internal volume of all waste water pipes (5) and the waste water collecting pipe (4). [2] Toilet system according to claim 1, characterized bythat at least one sensor is present on the pressure vessel (1). [3] Toilet system according to the preceding claim, characterized by that at least one sensor for controlling its operation, in particular a sensor for determining the internal pressure and / or the temperature, is present on the pressure vessel (1). [4] Toilet system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one supply line (6) with at least one second valve (1.2) for the supply of gas and / or liquid is connected to the pressure vessel (1). [5] Toilet system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the pressure vessel (1) is connected via several lines to the waste water lines (5) and waste water collection line (4) at different positions, which can each be released separately via first valves (1.1). [6] Toilet system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the opening of the first valve (1.1) takes place depending on a predeterminable number of uses of the toilets (2) of the toilet system, wherein the number of uses of individual toilets (2) is evaluated differently and the number of uses of a toilet (2) furthest away from the waste water collecting tank (3) or arranged in an unfavourable branch of the waste water pipe is evaluated with a factor greater than "one" and other uses of toilets (2) are only taken into account individually. [7] Toilet system according to claim 5, characterized by that by targeted opening of first valves (1.1), compressed gas and / or liquid can be introduced at different positions into the waste water line (5) and / or waste water collecting line (4) in the form of a pressure surge. [8] Toilet system according to claim 5 or 7, characterized bythat an opening of a first valve (1.1) can be initiated if no or a reduced amount of wastewater has been fed to the wastewater collection tank (3) within a predeterminable time interval.

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