Odor trap and composting toilet with odor trap

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an odor trap, in particular for a composting toilet, comprising a closure body which has a wall delimiting an interior space and which has a drainage opening in its lower region which can be closed by a floating body arranged in the interior space of the closure body.

[0002] Separate toilets, which allow urine and feces to be collected and disposed of separately, are becoming increasingly popular, especially in camping. Separate toilets typically feature urine collection containers. A particularly simple solution may have a hole in the container lid. However, this can cause urine to leak from the opening in the container lid if the vehicle moves. Odors and moisture can also escape.

[0003] An alternative solution is shown, for example, in DE 10 2019 128 862 A1, in which the opening of the urine collection container is sealed leak-proof. The odor trap is made of a thin, elastic material. As soon as liquid is present, the passage opens automatically and allows urine to pass through. The valve then closes again. Odors and moisture cannot escape from the urine collection container. However, the urine collection container must be vented when filled. This requires a ventilation opening. The valves are relatively expensive. In addition, the rubber lips tend to stick together after extended periods of non-use. The amount of urine present is then often no longer sufficient to open the valve.

[0004] CH 685 171 A5 discloses a valve device comprising a funnel with a drainage opening and a valve insert. The valve insert is designed, for example, as a hollow sphere and is capable of sealing the drainage opening essentially vapor-tight when at rest. When the liquid is poured into the funnel, the valve insert rises due to its float properties and exposes the drainage opening. The functionality of this valve device is limited by the fact that ventilation of the collecting container is not provided and must even be avoided in order to allow the liquid level to rise in a dip tube serving as a level indicator.

[0005] US 2019 / 0136495 A1 discloses a drain valve design for urinals that has two chambers, each containing a small ball. These balls open and close the passages for liquids, thus preventing unpleasant odors from entering the bathroom from the drainpipe. The upper chamber has a conical base and, when liquid is present, allows the upper ball to float, allowing the liquid to drain away. The lower chamber has a sloped bottom and roof, allowing the lower ball to seal off the holes in the bottom and side of the chamber when no more liquid is flowing through. The design utilizes the pressure of the drain gases to reinforce the seal, thus providing better odor protection.

[0006] EP 3 241 749 A1 describes a system for disposing of liquids, such as those found in aircraft galleys, using a special valve (self-regulating valve). This valve opens automatically when a certain amount of liquid is reached in a pipe to drain the liquid. As soon as there is less liquid in the pipe, the valve closes again to prevent air from being sucked out and unwanted noise from occurring.

[0007] DE 20 2019 005 509 U1 describes a separation toilet that collects urine and feces separately. This separation toilet has two bowls: one for urine and one for feces, and both bowls drain the collected waste into separate containers. To prevent unpleasant odors from flowing back into the toilet from the urine container, there is a check valve that only opens when a certain amount of urine is collected; after that, it closes automatically. The urine container also has a small vent to equalize air pressure, which facilitates the flow of urine and prevents odors from escaping.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide an odor trap that enables trouble-free and reliable filling of a container.

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention by an odor trap, in particular for a composting toilet, having a closure body which has a wall defining an interior space and which has a drainage opening in its lower region which can be closed by a floating body arranged in the interior of the closure body, wherein a ventilation opening, separate from the drainage opening, is provided above the drainage opening in the odor trap itself. Because the ventilation opening is provided in the odor trap itself, the container onto which the odor trap is placed can itself be designed without a ventilation opening. Thus, no liquid can escape from the container via the ventilation opening if the container is closed with a lid and transported after the odor trap has been removed.Because the ventilation opening is located above the drain opening, air can escape from the container into which the odor trap protrudes from the container opening without coming into contact with the liquid flowing into the container through the drain opening. According to the invention, at least two openings at different heights can be sealed with a single float.

[0010] It is particularly advantageous if the drainage opening and the ventilation opening are closed simultaneously by the float when the float is in a closed position. This means that both the ventilation opening and the drainage opening can be closed by the float when there is no liquid present. In this state, no air, vapors, or gases can escape from the container on which the odor trap is arranged. The ventilation opening is preferably located approximately at the level of the widest point of the float in its closed position. This allows the greatest possible distance to be achieved between the ventilation opening and the drainage opening, while still allowing both openings to be closed by the float in a closed position.

[0011] More than one ventilation opening may be provided; in particular, two or three ventilation openings may be provided. The ventilation openings may have a diameter in the range of 2-4 mm, preferably in the range of 2.5-3 mm.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, the float can be spherical. This measure allows for particularly simple production of both the float itself and the closure body adapted to it.

[0013] A guide for the float can be provided on the wall. This allows you to control how the float moves when liquid is present or when the float is moved upwards by liquid.

[0014] Particular advantages arise when the guide is designed as a web. A web-like guide keeps the float at a distance from the rest of the wall, allowing fluid to flow downwards between the float and the wall. The guide can be formed integrally with the closure body. The closure body can be designed as an injection-molded part, and the guide can be formed during injection molding. A web-like guide can decrease in height relative to the wall towards the drain opening. To ensure secure closure of the drain opening, a web-like guide can end before the drain opening.

[0015] The ventilation opening can be located in the area of ​​the guide, in particular, penetrating the guide. This ensures that the ventilation opening can be closed by the float resting against the guide. If the ventilation opening were located in the wall between two webs, it could not be closed by the float, as the guide keeps the float spaced from the wall.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, two substantially vertically extending web-like guides can be arranged side by side. Particularly when the valve body is manufactured using an injection molding process and the ventilation openings are provided in the web-like guides, this results in advantages, as the closure body is thus easier to demold compared to the case where web-like guides are provided on opposite sides of the closure body.

[0017] The guides can have a height relative to the wall of no more than 3 mm, preferably no more than 2 mm, and particularly preferably no more than 1 mm. In particular, the guides should protrude as little as possible from the wall. This allows the float to float more quickly when liquid is present.

[0018] The interior of the trap body can expand upwards. This facilitates assembly of the trap, especially the insertion of the float.

[0019] The float is preferably accommodated in the interior in a closed position without lateral or radial play. For this purpose, the float can rest at least partially against the inner wall above the drain opening. Alternatively, the float can rest against circumferentially distributed guides. This can prevent the float from moving while driving, or from accidentally opening the drain opening or ventilation opening, if the odor trap is installed in a composting toilet of a motorhome. Three web-like guides can be provided, extending essentially vertically.

[0020] A float lock can be provided. In particular, the float lock can be designed as a slotted ring. The float lock holds the float captive to the odor trap. Furthermore, the float lock can determine the maximum permissible vertical movement of the float (upward). The float lock can be locked to the closure body. In particular, it can be locked to the closure body in the area of ​​the guide(s). This locking mechanism allows for easy assembly and disassembly of the float lock.

[0021] If the float safety device is designed as a slotted ring, it is particularly advantageous if the ring is angled, i.e., aligned at an angle to the horizontal, and the slot is positioned at the lowest point. The slot then serves as a drain for fluid coming from above. The slot can be shaped as a drain opening. One or more ventilation openings can be provided on the side opposite the slot.

[0022] The float can be made of a material that wears faster than the closure body. It is easier and more cost-effective to replace the float when it wears than the closure body. Therefore, this measure offers cost advantages.

[0023] The scope of the invention also includes a container on which an odor trap according to the invention is arranged.

[0024] Furthermore, the invention includes a separation toilet for the separate collection of feces and urine, comprising a feces collection container and a urine collection container, which has an odor trap according to the invention. Such a separation toilet is particularly well-suited for transport in a mobile home. The odor nuisance for the users of the mobile home can be minimized particularly effectively with such a separation toilet.

[0025] The composting toilet can be equipped with an agitator, which is rotatably mounted on the feces collection container to circulate the feces. Therefore, no mounting outside the feces collection container is necessary. The agitator can be operated manually or connected to a motor. The feces collection container can be removed from the composting toilet for emptying, with the agitator remaining mounted on the feces collection container. The agitator therefore remains attached to the feces collection container when it is emptied and removed from the composting toilet. Prior disassembly of the agitator is not necessary.

[0026] Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description and the drawings. The embodiments shown and described are not intended to be exhaustive, but rather serve as examples for describing the invention.

[0027] They show: Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of an odor trap according to the invention in a closed position; Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the odor trap in an open position; Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the odor trap; Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of a composting toilet.

[0028] The Figure 1 shows an odor trap 10 with a closure body 12 having an interior space 14. The interior space 14 is defined by a wall 16. A drainage opening 18 is provided in the lower region of the closure body 12. The drainage opening 18 is closed by a spherical float 20 in the exemplary embodiment. The float 20 rests against a web-like guide 22 having a ventilation opening 24, which, in the position shown, is also closed by the float 20.

[0029] The web-like guide 22 is essentially vertically aligned. Its height relative to the wall 16 decreases toward the drain opening 18.

[0030] A float lock 26 is ring-shaped and latched to the guide 22. The float lock 26 allows vertical movement of the float 20 within a certain range, but prevents the float 20 from leaving the odor trap 10.

[0031] At its upper end, the odor trap 10 has a stepped edge 28, which allows it to be inserted into an opening in a container that can be closed with a lid. The odor trap 10 can be secured in the container opening, for example, with a nut.

[0032] In the in the Figure 1In the closed position shown, the float 20 simultaneously closes both the drain opening 18 and the ventilation opening 24. If liquid now enters from above, it reaches the area 30 between the float 20 and the wall 16. This causes the float 20 to float up and move vertically upwards. This opens the drain opening 18 and also the ventilation opening 24, as shown in the Figure 2 can be seen. Here it can be seen that further upward movement of the float 20 is prevented by the float safety device 26.

[0033] In the top view of the Figure 3It can be seen that the float retainer 26 is ring-shaped, in particular as a slotted ring. The slotted ring has tool engagement points 32, 34 on both sides of the slot so that the elastic ring can be compressed in the region of the slot for assembly and disassembly. It can also be seen that, in addition to the guide 22, guides 36, 38 are provided. The guides 22, 36, 38 are evenly distributed along the inner circumference of the wall 16. The guides 36, 38 can also have a ventilation opening 24. The guides 22, 36, 38 keep the float 20 at a distance from the inside of the wall 16 so that, on the one hand, liquid can flow downwards between the float 20 and the wall 16 and, on the other hand, the float 20 is prevented from sticking to the wall 16.In addition, the floating body 20 is guided in such a way that it can move exclusively vertically to open the discharge opening 18, at least initially, and in particular cannot move in the radial direction in the closed position.

[0034] Both the float 20, the float safety device 26, and the closure body 12 can be made of an easily disposable, chemical-resistant plastic. For example, they can be made of polypropylene. Such a plastic is resistant to common cleaners and disinfectants. The risk of damage from the use of cleaners and disinfectants is thus eliminated.

[0035] The closure body 12 and the float safety device 26 can each be manufactured by a single injection mold.

[0036] Since the float 20 has a low specific gravity and only a small volume remains between the wall 16 and the float 20, even small amounts of liquid, especially introduced urine, generate relatively high buoyancy forces. However, since the float 20 has only a small contact surface on the guides 22, 36, 38, sticking is impossible, even after extended non-use. Furthermore, the surface properties of plastics such as polypropylene, with their low adhesion forces, support the release of the float 20 from the guides 22, 36, 38.

[0037] The Figure 4shows a schematic representation of a composting toilet 100. The composting toilet 100 comprises a urine collection container 102, which has an inventive odor trap 10 at its filling opening 104. A urine collection bowl 106 opens into the odor trap. The composting toilet also has a feces collection container 108, to which feces is fed. The feces collection container has an agitator 110, which is rotatably mounted on the feces collection container 108. The feces collection container 108 can be removed for emptying together with the agitator 110, i.e., without the agitator 110 having to be detached or disassembled from the collection container.

Claims

1. An odor trap (10), in particular for a separating toilet (100), having a closure body (12) which has a wall (16) delimiting an interior (14) and which has a drain opening (18) in its lower region which can be closed by a float body (20) arranged in the interior (14) of the closure body, characterized in that a ventilation opening (24) separate from the drain opening (18) is provided above the drain opening (18) in the odor trap itself, so that air from a container having an opening into which the odor trap protrudes from the opening of the container can escape without coming into contact with the liquid that flows into the container through the drain opening (18).

2. The odor trap according to claim 1, characterized in that the drain opening (18) and the ventilation opening (24) are closed simultaneously by the float body (20) when the float body (20) is in a closed position.

3. The odor trap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the float body (20) is designed to be spherical.

4. The odor trap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a guide (22, 36, 38) for the float body (20) is provided on the wall (16).

5. The odor trap according to claim 4, characterized in that the guide (22, 36, 38) is designed to be web-like.

6. The odor trap according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the ventilation opening (24) is arranged in the region of the guide (22, 36, 38), in particular penetrates the guide (22, 36, 38).

7. The odor trap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two, substantially vertically extending, web-like guides (22, 36, 38) are arranged next to one another.

8. The odor trap according to claim 7, characterized in that the guides (22, 36, 38) have a height relative to the wall (16) of at most 3 mm, preferably of at most 2 mm, particularly preferably of at most 1 mm.

9. The odor trap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the interior (14) of the closure body (12) widens upwards.

10. The odor trap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the float body (20) is accommodated in the interior (14) in a closed position without lateral or radial play.

11. The odor trap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a float body securing means (26), in particular designed as a slotted ring, is provided.

12. The odor trap according to claim 11, characterized in that the float body securing means (26) is latched to the closure body (12).

13. The odor trap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the float body (20) is made of a material that wears faster than the closure body (12).

14. A container on which an odor trap (10) according to one of the preceding claims is arranged.

15. A separating toilet (100) for the separate collection of feces and urine with a feces collection container (108) and a urine collection container (102), having an odor trap (10) according to one of preceding claims 1 to 13.