METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE SEPARATION OF SOUNDS BEHIND A SIPHON OF A FLUSH TOILET

Description

[0001] Public wastewater infrastructure is complex and is constantly being expanded in many countries, requiring ongoing maintenance and repairs. In developed countries, the flush toilet has become the norm. After using it, one relieves oneself into a bowl, which is then flushed, along with any used toilet paper, into a sewer system with a stream of water. Sewer pipes must all be laid with a minimum gradient to ensure sufficient flow, and they connect to increasingly larger pipes until they finally empty into large underground sewers that transport the wastewater to treatment plants. There, the contaminated water undergoes extensive purification before it can be released into natural waterways.

[0002] The history of disposing of domestic waste from human settlements is very old. Over 2000 years ago, a precursor to today's sewage system was developed in Rome. This system drained wastewater and rainwater from the city. During the Middle Ages, this earlier technology was neglected, and excrement was primarily disposed of by flushing it away, sometimes even into the streets. This led to the uncontrolled spread of pathogens. Many people fell victim to this neglect of hygiene.

[0003] As a result of the 19th-century Industrial Revolution in Europe and North America, personal hygiene became increasingly important because people were frequently unable to go to work due to illness. Underground sewage systems were rebuilt to discharge sewage into rivers and lakes. Over time, the heavy pollution of the water and the growth of settlements exceeded the capacity and self-purification of these waterways. Consequently, the influx of pollutants into the waterways created significant problems for people seeking drinking water.

[0004] Gradually, due to economic development, the treatment of sewage in newly constructed wastewater treatment plants became increasingly important. Today, the system of centralized water supply, combined sewer system, and centralized wastewater treatment plants "at the end of the pipe" is a crucial component of the integrated supply and disposal system for residential areas.

[0005] As an alternative to centralized wastewater treatment, decentralized wastewater disposal has long been practiced in rural areas. Decentralized wastewater treatment refers to the treatment of domestic wastewater in small and very small treatment plants, either as a shared facility for villages or as an individual solution. Rainwater is stored separately, infiltrated into the ground, or discharged.

[0006] The facts outlined above clearly demonstrate the need to develop an alternative wastewater and, indeed, water strategy that reflects modern knowledge and technological possibilities. Approaches to a sustainable on-site wastewater policy range from rainwater harvesting and the use of treated wastewater to the recovery and return of nutrients to agriculture.

[0007] In 2011, the Bill & Melanie Gates Foundation launched a global competition to develop an ecologically sound, environmentally friendly, and economically viable simple toilet system. The results were rather meager. Furthermore, the proposed solutions were largely unsuitable for the vast population of an estimated 2.5 billion people who lack direct access to a toilet.

[0008] A new approach suggests that the problems should be addressed at their source. However, this would mean that users or operators of such toilet facilities would have to incur additional costs for waste disposal. This is unacceptable and should not be the case, and therefore these ideas were dropped from the proposed environmentally friendly disposal options.

[0009] In a combined sewer system, domestic wastewater and rainwater are conveyed together via a combined sewer system and treated in a wastewater treatment plant. The purification of the wastewater mixture requires significant technical effort. Reusing the substances contained in the wastewater is virtually impossible or only feasible with considerable technical resources. The treated wastewater is discharged into a receiving water body and is thus lost to the urban groundwater system. There are no truly "one-size-fits-all" solutions for (waste)water management. The challenge lies in selecting technologies that are adapted to the local climatic, hydrological, as well as social, cultural, and economic conditions.

[0010] Modern toilets offer the advantage of comfortable and hygienic use of public restrooms with minimal odor. However, this comes at a significant cost: considerable water consumption. In many countries, approximately 9 liters of drinking water are used for each flush, or 6 liters with improved flushing systems. This water is used solely for transport purposes and then requires extensive purification, which is correspondingly costly and time-consuming.

[0011] The following figures illustrate the associated costs using Switzerland as an example. According to a study by EAWAG, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (ETH Domain) water research institute, from November 2006, there were already 759 wastewater treatment plants in Switzerland, each serving more than 500 residents, and 47,400 km of sewer lines. In addition, there were more than 3,383 small-scale wastewater treatment plants, approximately 42,000 km of private drainage pipes, and around 1,700,000 residential connections. The total replacement value of these public infrastructures was estimated at approximately CHF 65.3 billion at that time, and that of private drainage systems at approximately CHF 16.8 billion. Together with the estimated value of sanitary installations at CHF 17.4 billion, this resulted in a total value of nearly CHF 100 billion for the entire Swiss municipal wastewater system. Of this, 34% is privately managed and 66% is publicly owned.

[0012] According to information provided by the municipalities and the cantons (which in Switzerland encompass several municipalities), the projected annual costs for wastewater disposal already amounted to CHF 1.69 billion at that time. Of this, 48% was attributable to wastewater treatment plants and 52% to the sewer system. The annual operating costs for the entire public infrastructure totaled approximately CHF 727 million, of which CHF 440 million (61%) was for the operation of the wastewater treatment plants. Total interest costs were stated as CHF 92 million, representing 0.145% of the replacement value.

[0013] For more than 500 municipalities, representing approximately 25% of the Swiss population, the costs of the sewer system could be examined in greater detail. The extrapolated value of public sewers in Switzerland amounted to CHF 55.2 billion, or approximately CHF 7,600 per inhabitant. Although the specific replacement value of sewers per meter of pipe increases significantly with increasing population density, the replacement value per inhabitant differed only slightly between the various types of municipalities. According to the available data, the annual investment required for sewer system rehabilitation was already around 0.8% of the replacement value of the infrastructure in 2006. The condition of the infrastructure and its expected lifespan are the reasons why the need for sewer system rehabilitation has increased significantly in recent years.

[0014] Despite all the advantages of modern urban drainage, the concept of sewage systems and centralized wastewater treatment also has disadvantages, raising doubts as to whether this established solution is the ultimate solution in the long run. The following aspects can be cited in this regard:

[0015] The sewage system is insufficient for a high level of water protection. Despite the large volumes of treated water and the high dilution rates, even the elaborately treated wastewater often still poses a significant burden on natural water bodies.

[0016] Operating and maintaining the existing sewage system and wastewater treatment plants is cost-intensive, and construction requires high investments.

[0017] Approaches to ecological material flow management through material separation and recycling of valuable materials are only possible to a very limited extent in the existing system. KR 2017 0139960 A presents a device for the disposal of feces. It comprises an open-topped cylindrical container 100 with a hinged toilet seat 130 at the top. A vinyl roll 10 with a vertically oriented axis can be inserted into the interior of the container 100. For this purpose, the roll is placed over a holder 120 in the form of a pipe section, with this holder 120 resting on a horizontal intermediate floor 140 with a central hole. Below the hole, two driveable rollers 140 and 200 are arranged diametrically opposite each other to pull a hose extending from the vinyl roll 10 downwards. Below the rollers 140 and 200, two welding bars 300, also arranged diametrically opposite each other, are located.When these sections move horizontally together, they flatten the tubing between them and weld the two vinyl sides together using electrical heat, thus sealing the tubing and forming a bag. Urine, excrement, and toilet paper fall into this bag. A further section of vinyl tubing is then pulled down from the roll, and a new bag is formed by welding, simultaneously sealing the filled bag hermetically. However, the container is not a flush toilet, and the welded bags are not suitable for disposal via the sewer system. US Patent 2009 / 255045 A1 discloses a portable dry toilet device with which excrement is packaged into a flexible, bag-like container, and this package is hermetically sealed. Up to six such packages are then collected under the toilet bowl in a shallow, box-shaped container for later disposal.A waterless toilet flush is known from US Patent 2010 / 024116 A1. It consists of a device with a flushing pump for the top-mounted flushing fluid, a flushing fluid reservoir, a fecal collection container, and an automatic deodorant fluid addition device. A dispersing and centrifuging device consists of a dispersing tray and a centrifuging impeller mounted on the same rotating shaft, and a motor mounted in the toilet bowl basin to drive the rotating shaft. The top flushing fluid pump is located on the inside or outside of the flushing fluid reservoir so that the top flushing fluid can be easily pumped out. The top flushing fluid pump is connected to the front of the toilet bowl via a pipe.The device is characterized by the inclusion of an electrically controlled four-way valve, one outlet of which is connected to the outlet of the side recess at the rear of the toilet bowl for collecting feces. The three outlets are connected via a fecal distribution pipe, a fecal collection pipe, and a urine collection pipe to the central part of the toilet bowl, the fecal collection tank, and the flush liquid collection tank. However, the closest document is US 2008 / 047054 A1. .It shows a method for separating solids from a water toilet 100. Toilet system with a bowl, the interior of which is divided by a partition into a front and a rear guide path, wherein the partition has a head section defining a front and a rear slope, and the front and rear guide paths with a front and rear slope respectively.The divider is connected to a rear waste pipe, with a vacuum suction device connected at one end to the lower end of the rear waste pipe, and a waste collection bag connected at the lower end of the vacuum suction device. Excreted urine falls onto the front slope of the divider, flowing through the front guide channel into the front waste pipe for treatment and disposal. Excreted feces falls onto the rear slope of the divider and is drawn in by the vacuum suction device, flowing through the rear guide channel and the rear waste pipe into the waste collection bag. The waste collection bag, eventually filled with feces, is removed from the vacuum suction device and immediately frozen. It is then stored for later incineration or use as fertilizer or fuel to meet environmental protection requirements.However, none of these solutions is able to efficiently and odor-tightly contain and separate the solid components such as excrement and toilet paper in such packages so that they can be flushed away through the sewer system.

[0018] Against this background, this invention aims to bring about an improvement by separating and separately treating solid excrement and other solid substances such as toilet paper from the wastewater stream in order to relieve the entire sewage system and only dispose of the flushing water via the sewage system, or possibly also the urine.

[0019] The challenge is to create a process and a facility that will meet the following requirements: 1. The process and equipment should reliably separate solid excrement and toilet paper from the wastewater stream and treat them separately to prevent the wastewater from directly carrying these substances. 2. The equipment should be compact enough to be installed in the cistern compartment behind a modern toilet. 3. The equipment should be as simple in design as possible and function reliably over the long term, operate quietly (max. 47 dBA), and, most importantly, be odorless. 4. The equipment should be as easy to maintain and operate as possible.

[0020] The solution to these problems consists of a method for separating the solids from a water toilet downstream of its siphon, which is characterized by the fact that the solids, together with a proportion of air, are packaged in individual bags of an endlessly supplied hose and the floating bags are hermetically sealed and individually released into the sewer system.

[0021] Furthermore, the problem is solved by a device for separating the solids with a water toilet with a bowl according to claim 6.

[0022] This toilet system can also be combined, for example, with the TOTO toilet separation system from Toijs Toki Co. Ltd. in Japan, or with the "Urine Trap" toilet from Keramik Laufen AG, Wahlenstrasse 46, CH-4242 Laufen, allowing urine to be collected and disposed of separately. Essentially, however, the system separates the liquid and solid components of the flushed waste. The solids are processed and packaged to allow transport in the form of a pillow-shaped bag. These bags are either transported via the sewer system and retrieved intact at the wastewater treatment plant and disposed of without polluting the sewage with fecal matter, or they are concentrated in a collection container outside the building and emptied periodically.

[0023] The device is presented using the drawings, and its construction is described in detail based on these drawings, along with its function in the solids separation process. Based on its function, the device could aptly be called a LEFT device, where LEFT stands for Local Disposal of Solid Toilet Waste. It demonstrates: Figure 1: A toilet in longitudinal section for the separation of urine and solid excrement; Figure 2: A standard installation frame with cistern and connections for mounting a wall-hung toilet of conventional design; Figure 3: A diagram of a house with its drainage system, separating urine and encapsulating solid excrement; Figure 4: An installation unit with frame for wall mounting of the entire device, to be installed behind a wall-hung toilet, containing all components for the operation of the toilet with solids separation and bagging of the solids, shown from a front oblique angle; Figure 5: The lower part of the installation unit, shown separately from the rear; Figure 6: A schematic representation of all components of the device according to the invention for separating and bagging the solid excrement;Figure 7: An alternative lifting device for conveying the solids from the solids separation tank in the position for receiving the solids from the solids separation tank into its collection basket; Figure 8: The lifting device according to ; Figure 7 during the lifting of the catch basket; Figure 9: The lifting device according to Figure 7 with the bottom of the collection basket opened and its emptying into the portioning device; Figure 10: The lifting device according to Figure 7 after the collection basket is raised and tilted into an emptying position; Figure 11: The portioning device for dropping portions of solid material into the bag packaging unit in an exploded view along the central axis of rotation from a top-down angle; Figure 12: The portioning device after Figure 11Figure 13: The assembled portioning device seen from a low angle; Figure 14: The assembled portioning device seen from a low angle; Figure 15: The tubular bag packaging unit in its initial state; Figure 16: The tubular bag packaging unit after a section of tubing has been pulled up to form a single tubular bag; Figure 17: The tubular bag packaging unit before the pulled-up tubular section has been transversely welded at its lower end to form a single tubular bag open at the top; Figure 18: The tubular bag packaging unit after the upper opening of the bag, which is closed at the bottom by transverse welding, has been opened; Figure 19: The tubular bag packaging unit during the separation of the bag, which is held open at the top, from the subsequent continuous tubing;Figure 20: The tubular bag packaging unit with the bag held open, the cutting device withdrawn, and a support plate slid under the bag, during filling with solids; Figure 21: The tubular bag packaging unit with the filled, still open bag resting on the support plate after insertion of an air tube; Figure 22: The tubular bag packaging unit during the closing of the upper bag opening; Figure 23: The tubular bag packaging unit during the sealing of the closed upper bag opening; Figure 24: The design of the vacuum bars with their sealing bars for sealing around the air tube opening; Figure 25: The sealed tubular bag packaging unit, hanging from the upper vacuum bars with sealing bars, after the support plate has been removed, and ready for discharge into the sewer;Figure 26: A sliding channel or trough pushed under the bag for draining the hermetically sealed bag into the drain pipe with siphon as an odor trap for the sewer, with the vacuum bars extended; Figure 27: An alternative tubular bag packaging unit for producing approximately round bags, with the lower, arc-shaped welding bars used for arc-shaped welding of the raised tubular section after their retraction, after forming a single tubular bag open at the top and arc-shaped at the bottom for filling; Figure 28: The tubular bag packaging unit according to ; Figure 27 , after the lower arched sealing bars have been pulled apart, with the bag now tightly sealed at the bottom and hanging at the top from the vacuum bars; Figure 29: The tubular bag packaging unit after the Figure23 and 24, after filling and now during the closing of the upper vacuum bars and enclosing of the air tube, as well as during the closing of the upper arc-shaped sealing bars; Figure 30: The tubular bag packaging unit after the Figures 23 to 25after blowing air through the air tube, welding around the lower air tube opening by the welding bars in the vacuum bars, and after arc welding at the top and before the subsequent spreading of the upper arc welding bars; Figure 31: The situation after the support plate has moved away, the air tube has been pulled back upwards, and after a sliding channel or sliding trough or sliding plate has been inserted under the tubular bag and after the vacuum bars have been spread apart, after which the tubular bag is placed onto the sliding channel or sliding plate.the sliding trough or sliding plate falls; Figure 32: An arc-shaped welding bar with, outside the welding bar, an arc-shaped spring-loaded knife with a sharp blade for cutting off the remaining film remnants on the outside; Figure 33: A finished, approximately round, downward and upward bulging tubular bag containing hermetically sealed solids and an air component; Figure 34: A finished, such a round, downward and upward bulging tubular bag in a photographic representation as produced with a prototype system, for the feasibility study.

[0024] First, the Figure 1A special, existing toilet bowl 100 in longitudinal section, suitable for separating urine from the solid components of excrement, including toilet paper and flush water, at the source. For this purpose, this toilet bowl 100 has an additional pedestal-shaped base 101 at the front, extending from the front towards approximately the middle of the bowl 100 and terminating there in a sloping lip 102. The urine is collected on this base 101 and then flows over this drip lip 102 into a collection chamber 103 at the bottom. From there, it is drained via a small siphon 104 through a separate, small-diameter pipe 105. This allows it to be collected in a separate container for further use.The solid excrement falls down behind the drip edge 102 into the siphon water 106 of the large siphon 108 and then enters the drain pipe 107, which leads out of the toilet bowl 100 at the rear of the siphon 108. The invention further relates to the treatment of these solid components of the excrement as well as the toilet paper used, which is also drained through this large siphon 108 together with the excrement and the flushing water.

[0025] The Figure 2Figure 1 shows a conventional wall-mounted installation unit for subsequent installation of a wall-hung toilet, in a top view. It includes a mounting frame 200, which rests on height-adjustable feet 202 and fits as a whole into a recess cut into the wall. Such a recess in the rear wall typically measures 500 mm in width and 280 mm in depth, and up to approximately 1500 mm in height. To create more space in new installations for the installation module for the pouch packaging of solids (to be presented later), the recesses could also be extended upwards to the room height. Within this mounting frame 200, the cistern 201 can be seen at the very top in this example. Below it is a cover 206, which houses the buttons 209 for operating the cistern 201. Above the connection stub 204 for the drain pipe 107 coming from the siphon Figure 1The connecting pipe 205 for the flushing system is located there, and next to it, slightly below, are the threaded bushings 203 for screwing on the wall-hung toilet, and possibly electrical connections 207 for connecting a bidet toilet, as well as signal lines for controlling the entire system via a keypad 209 with display 210 above the toilet. This allows a flush to be triggered and, if a bidet toilet is present, its maintenance status to be checked.

[0026] As the Figure 3As shown in a cross-section of a house with sewer connections, there is a drain pipe 110 from the toilet (WC 100) for urine, and a larger pipe 111 for solid excrement requiring further treatment, as will be shown later. Next to this, a drain pipe 112 is visible from a bathtub 113, a washbasin 114, and a washing machine 115, which leads in the conventional manner into the sewer 119, then into a wastewater pipe 109, and from there finally into a wastewater treatment plant. According to this concept, however, solid excrement and toilet paper are specially treated and hermetically sealed in buoyant bags, which are then carried away by the flushing water.They can be retained in a collection container 117 as shown here and disposed of from there from time to time, or they float with the flushing water in the sewer 119 and into the wastewater canal 109 to the sewage treatment plant, where they are separated from the wastewater and disposed of separately.

[0027] The bags are either collected in decentralized collection containers (117) at collection points for, for example, a single house or several houses, or collected somewhere along the way to the wastewater treatment plant and removed from the sewer system (119), or this only happens at the treatment plant itself. In any case, it is important that human waste does not enter the sewage system in the first place. Both urine and feces increasingly contain pharmaceutical residues, which are difficult or impossible to remove from the sewage system. Such contaminated water can have a negative impact on the fauna and flora of aquatic life, even after treatment. For example, it has already been found that hormones in wastewater, such as those from excreted active ingredients in birth control pills, have a negative impact on the fertility of fish and other aquatic organisms.It is therefore advisable to address this problem right from the start and not contaminate the rinse water with urine and excrement, but rather to use it solely as a transport medium. This is precisely the aim of the present concept: to minimize the amount of fecal matter that pollutes the water, using the rinse water exclusively for transporting hermetically sealed bags and thus avoiding contamination as much as possible. This relieves the burden on wastewater treatment plants and, as mentioned, also helps to prevent pharmaceutical residues from ultimately entering rivers and lakes and, eventually, groundwater.

[0028] The following section demonstrates how such a hermetic enclosure for solid excrement, based on this concept, and the necessary equipment can be implemented in a compact manner. When implemented as a built-in unit, the system has a width of 500 mm, or preferably 750 mm, like all other standard elements. The connection points for the flush water supply and drain must have standard dimensions to allow connection to commercially available toilets. Toilet models such as those described in [reference to toilet model would be inserted here] are particularly suitable. Figure 1The invention demonstrates systems capable of separating solid and liquid waste in toilets, such as those already available, for example from TOTO (Toijs Toki Co. Ltd., Japan) or the "Urine Trap" toilet from Keramik Laufen AG, Wahlenstrasse 46, CH-4242 Laufen. The actual processing of the solids into hermetically sealed, pillow-shaped bags is carried out exclusively by the device according to the invention. At various stations, the solids are portioned and hermetically sealed to such an extent that a bag can float independently through an existing or newly constructed drainage pipe system. The bags, with or without urine, can then be used as a neighborhood collection point outside the building for reuse.One advantage of this disposal method is that it places no additional burden on the user or operator for running the device in the home, apart from the periodic replacement of a packaging material cassette or refilling of disinfectant. This, however, is comparable to the maintenance required for a shower toilet.

[0029] The Figure 4 Figure 1 shows an installation unit for the implementation of the concept of packaging the solids in an installation bay as a complete installation module, similar to how a module is conventionally used for installing a cistern in a bay in the wall behind the toilet.

[0030] The installation unit 1 is enclosed by a steel frame 49, which stands on the floor of the bay in the wall. At the bottom of the installation module, the connecting pipe 2 for the drain pipe 107 of the toilet bowl 100 can be seen. Figure 1This leads into a solids separator tank 3. From the solids separator tank 3, a riser pipe 4 leads up to a solids tank 5. At the bottom of this tank, a portioning device 6 in the form of a drum with a valve 7 underneath it is connected. From this valve, a downpipe 8 leads into a pouch packaging unit 9. In its lower section, a replaceable cassette 10 containing pouch material on a roll can be seen. From this pouch packaging unit 9, the wastewater pipe 11 leads into the sewer. The cistern 12 with fresh water is centrally located at the top, and to its right is a grey water tank 13. A brown water tank 14 is installed at the bottom right; its water is used for the first flush. In the center of the cross member 15 of the steel frame 1, the connection 16 for the flush water can be seen.To the right above the wastewater pipe 11 is the power supply 17, and above that an electronic control unit 18 for the entire system. In the uppermost area on the right side of the installation unit is an ultraviolet disinfection unit 19 for disinfecting the flushing fluid in the greywater tank 13. To the left of this is a control panel 20 with displays and buttons for monitoring and operating all system components. It is clear that the entire post-treatment of the solid waste from the outlets must be carried out in a completely odor-tight, hermetically sealed system, while the system components must still be accessible for technical maintenance or repairs. For this purpose, appropriate odor-tight doors are provided, which can be opened as needed.

[0031] The Figure 5The lower section of the installation unit is shown separately from the rear. Specifically, the tubular bag packaging unit 9 is visible on the right, and the solids separation tank 3 is visible below it. To the left of this, a distributor in the form of a rotary valve 21 can be seen. The discharge pipe 107 ( Figure 1 The toilet's waste pipe is connected to this distributor or rotary valve 21, and the solids arriving from above, as well as the flush water and urine, then flow, under normal operating conditions, via pipe 23 into the solids separator tank 3. In the event of a malfunction, they flow via pipe 22 directly into the downpipe 24, which leads to the sewer. It is clear that the arrangement of the individual components within a single installation module can vary, depending on the design of the individual components. However, the solids tank 5, as well as the flush water tank 12 and the grey water tank 13, must be positioned as high as possible.

[0032] The Figure 6Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of all components of the inventive installation unit for separating and bagging solid excrement. The toilet waste, i.e., the solid excrement, toilet paper, and urine (if it is not previously drained separately), enters the solids separation tank 3 from the upper greywater tank 13 (containing approximately 4 liters of greywater) after flushing via the greywater valve 93. From the toilet bowl 100, the waste flows via the siphon and rotary valve 21 (when the valve is in position 1) into the solids separation tank 3. The solids sink to the bottom of the tank, activating solids sensors 89. These sensors then activate the solids pump 28 with integrated macerator 26. The solids pump 28 pumps the solids, mixed with greywater, upwards through the riser pipe 4 via the valve 30 (which is opened for this purpose) into the solids tank 5, which is positioned as high as possible in the installation module.As soon as the solids sensors 89 detect the absence of solids in the lower solids separation tank 3, the solids pump 28 switches off and the valve 30 closes to prevent the aqueous solids slurry from flowing back. The riser pipe 4 also serves as a storage reservoir for the solids slurry. The riser pipe 4 is always full.

[0033] Simultaneously, the excess greywater flows passively from the lower solids separator tank 3 through the overflow pipe 78 via the retention screen 29 and the open brown water valve 97 into the brown water tank 14, which has a usable capacity of approximately 4 liters, measured to the inlet of the overflow pipe 78. A vent pipe 96 branching off from the top of the brown water tank 14 releases the overpressure generated by filling into the sewer. Once the brown water tank 14 reaches the 4-liter limit, the overflow valve 91 opens to reduce the tank's volume to 2 liters.

[0034] Once this is achieved, a secondary flush of approximately 2 liters from the fresh water tank 12, which is supplied with fresh water via valve 97, is triggered by valve 95. This performs a cleaning flush of the toilet siphon. This relatively clean water then also passively enters the brown water tank 14. Upon completion of this second flushing and filling process, 4 liters of the improved brown water are pumped by the feed pump 32 into the UV disinfection unit 19 located above. The feed pump 32 is activated intermittently to ensure that only as much brown water is pumped as the UV disinfection unit 19 can process. If the grey water tank 13, which is supplied with fresh water via valve 98 and by the disinfection unit 19 via line 99, is not filled to 4 liters after the feed pump 32 has finished, it is automatically filled to the final level with fresh water.This two-stage flushing process, first with grey water and then with fresh water, proves to be particularly economical. For a 6-liter flush, only 2 liters of fresh water are needed and supplied. This saves valuable fresh water.

[0035] The toilet's control panel, as usual, has a small and a large flush button. The large button is for flushing toilets with fixed outlets, the small button for urination only. The following situations must be distinguished: A) Urine-only discharge: In the case of urine-only discharge, the small button triggers the flush through the fresh water tank 12. The rotary valve 21 is switched to position 2 immediately before flushing, and the urine flows conventionally into the outlet pipe 31 and thus into the sewer. B) Incorrect operation with large button: If the large button is accidentally pressed after no solids have been discharged and the solids sensors 89 have detected no solids in the solids separator tank 3, a 4-liter grey water flush is triggered. Therefore, a 2-liter fresh water flush is not triggered. The unused grey water flows into the brown water tank 14, where the overflow valve 91 is closed. The transfer pump 32 intermittently pumps the unused grey water back into the UV disinfection system until the grey water tank 13 is refilled.C) System overload: If the toilet is used frequently, for example at parties or when there are many guests in the apartment, the system may become overloaded. This can occur because the processing of previously discharged solids may not yet be complete. In this case, the system switches to emergency operation. Rotary valve 21 switches to position 2. Valve 94 on the fresh water cistern 12 in the module then opens and flushes 4 to 5 liters of solids into pipe 31 for the sewer system. As soon as the processing of the solids, which is taking place in the background, is complete, the system switches back to normal operation.

[0036] A separate drain 25 for the separately collected urine leads from the toilet 100 into a separate collection container (not shown). The rotary valve 21 below the siphon of the toilet 100 is motor-controlled and can assume three positions: A first position 1 for normal operation, in which the incoming flushing material consisting of water, possibly also urine if it is not collected separately, and solids such as excrement and toilet paper is directed into the downstream solids separator tank 3. A second position 2 is for emergency operation, in which the rotary valve 21 discharges the flushing material directly into the drain pipe 31 and then into the sewer in a conventional manner. A third position 3 is for cleaning operation, for backflushing the downstream solids separator tank 3. The rotary valve 21 as well as the solids separator tank 3 can be cleaned and flushed by cleaning nozzles located inside them.It is planned to use computer 18 of a PLC controller (. Figure 4 to connect to a web server so that the system's status can be queried and displayed remotely. Internally installed webcams can also be used for this purpose; these can be cleaned by cleaning nozzles as needed.

[0037] During the flushing process, excess greywater flows passively via the retention screen 29 and the open brown water valve 89 into the brown water tank 14, which has a usable capacity of approximately 4 liters, from its inlet opening. A vent line 96 releases the overpressure generated by the filling process into the sewer. The overflow valve 91 is open, and after a defined time, a fill volume of approximately 2 liters is reached. Once this volume is reached, the flushing process from the fresh water tank 12, also containing 2 liters, is triggered by valve 95, and the overflow valve 91 is closed. This relatively clean water then also passively flows into the brown water tank. At the end of the second filling process, the brown water, now enriched with fresh water (approximately 4 liters), is intermittently pumped by the feed pump 32 into the UV disinfection system. The solids separator tank 3 is always filled to the L max mark.When the level L min is reached, the solids conveying pump 28 will definitely switch off, as no more material can be drawn in below this level.

[0038] From the solids tank 5, located at the very top of the installation unit, the viscous slurry of excrement, toilet paper, and a small amount of water is dispensed via a portioning device 6 and a valve 7 into the pouch packaging unit 9 located below. A sensor monitors the fill level of the solids tank 5, ensuring that the solids pump 28 only operates when the level in the tank 5 is not too high. The valve 7 is opened and closed by the portioning unit 6.

[0039] A vent line 33 leads from the solids tank 5 into the drain pipe 31 to the sewer, preventing any overpressure from building up in the solids tank 5. From the bottom, starting at the portioning device 6, an emergency line 34 leads via a solenoid valve 35 into the drain pipe 31 and into the sewer. If, for any reason, the pouch packaging unit 9 should become defective, the solids tank 5 can be emptied directly into the sewer.

[0040] The concept presented so far relies on a sewage pump located at the bottom of solids separation tank 3 for the upstream transport of solids. This pump macerates the solids and conveys them, along with flushing water, to the upper solids tank. An alternative implementation for this upstream transport of solids is presented below, to ensure the subsequent processing of the solids or the resulting slurry in the dosing unit for dispensing into the packaging unit. As an alternative to the system described above, the 120-degree rotary valve could be omitted, and the upper greywater tank could also be eliminated, thus eliminating the need for a two-phase toilet flush. This would significantly simplify the system and result in conventional water consumption during flushing.

[0041] For this purpose, a lift system is used, with a lift basket that can move up and down, as this lift system from the Figures 7 to 10When the toilet is flushed, the solids and flush water enter the lift basket 121 via the inlet pipe 120 of the lift system. The solids are deposited in the lift basket 121, and the flush water flows directly into the sewer through the side slots 122 in the lift basket 121. The bottom of the lift basket 121 is formed by a lift basket bottom flap 123, which is held in the closed position by a tension spring or torsion spring. Once filled, the lift basket 121 is raised. This is achieved by a drive mechanism consisting of two threaded rods 124 arranged symmetrically to the lift basket 121, with two guide nuts 125 on the lift basket 121. A drive motor 126 is connected to the two threaded rods 124 via a toothed belt 127. Magnetic switches signal the positions of the lift basket 121 to the control unit. The lift basket 121 is kept in the track by guide profiles 128 arranged on both sides.For this purpose, complementary guide ribs 129 are attached to both sides of the lift basket 121. Both profiles 128, the fixed lateral ones and the guide ribs 129 on the lift basket 121, are V-shaped at their ends, so that correct guidance is always re-established when the lift basket 121 is lowered.

[0042] The Figure 8 The figure shows the situation when the lift basket 121 is being raised. Its lateral guide ribs 129 are already extended two-thirds of the way out of the profiles 128. Once the lift basket 121 has reached its uppermost position, the guide ribs 129 on the sides of the lift basket 121, which previously slid upwards in the guide profiles 128, are fully extended out of them, and the lift basket 121 is thus suspended freely from the two opposing guide thread nuts 125. These nuts 125 are pivotally mounted on the lift basket 121, so that the lift basket 121 can now be tilted about the pivot axis 130 in this freely suspended position.

[0043] In Figure 9 The lift basket 121 is shown in the position swivelled laterally about the axis 130. In this swivelled position, it protrudes into a discharge chute 131. For swivelling, a catch hook (not shown here) engages the lift basket 121 at a lower lateral connection point and swivels or tilts it until the lift basket 121 is flush with the discharge chute 131. Another catch hook engages the lift bottom flap 132 and opens it against the acting spring force until the solids stored in the lift basket 121 slide out for further processing and enter the portioning device. It is also possible to combine the two movements of swiveling the lift basket 121 and opening the bottom flap 132 by a kinematic drive.

[0044] Once the lift basket 121 is emptied, its movements proceed in reverse direction and sequence, analogous to the process described above. The spring on the lift bottom flap 123 closes the lift basket 121 again, and during the subsequent downward movement of the lift basket 121, it is centered and kept in position by the V-shaped guide profiles 128. In the event of a system malfunction, the lift basket 121 can be positioned at half height, and the solids are transported as usual, directly into the sewer system.

[0045] These can be compressed into cylindrical solids using screw compression (similar to a meat grinder) or a similar principle. The dosage of the solids is determined by the number of revolutions of the screw compression mechanism. They are then dispensed into the packaging unit described below. Alternatively, the solids could be mixed with water in a controlled manner and then blended into a paste with a defined viscosity before being dispensed into the packaging unit.

[0046] The Figure 11Figure 5 shows an exploded view along a central axis of rotation of the solids tank 5 and the portioning device 6 for the portioned dropping of solids from the solids tank 5 into the tubular bag packaging unit 9. At the top, the solids tank 5 is shown open at the top. Below it, the portioning device 6 can be seen with a rotor housing 36, an inlet opening 37, and a pivot lever 38 to be inserted therein. The rotor 43 is shown below the rotor housing 36 and has a through-channel 39. At the bottom, a stationary rotor housing base 40 with its outlet opening 41 is shown, and below it, an electric dual drive 42 with two coaxial axes. One axis 47 rotates the rotor 43, and another axis 48 rotates the pivot lever 38 into its two designated rotational positions.

[0047] Based on Figure 12 , which this portioning device according to Figure 11The process, shown from a slightly oblique angle below, is further explained. The through-channel of the rotor 43 is located below the inlet opening 46 of the rigid rotor housing 36. The pivot lever 38 rotates slowly over the inlet opening and fills the through-channel of the rotor 43. The pivot lever 38 can be operated in a 360° rotation or in reverse. The rotor 43 then continues to rotate until its through-channel 39 is located above the outlet opening 41 in the rotor base 40. The mixture now flows downwards via the valve 7 into the tubular packaging unit 9. Two lateral openings at the top of the through-channel 39 of the rotor 43 and in the opposite rotor housing 36 prevent a vacuum from forming, which would impede the outlet of the mixture portion, by supplying air.

[0048] The Figure 13 The assembled portioning device6 is shown from a top-down angle and the Figure 14The figure shows a view from a low angle. This portioning device 6 dispenses measured, uniformly sized portions into the tubular bag packaging unit 9 via the dosing valve 7 located below it. The tubular bag packaging unit 9 will be described in more detail below, based on its operation over time.

[0049] The Figure 15 Figure 1 shows the interior of the tubular bag packaging unit 9 in its initial state. It encloses a continuous roll 50 of tubular material 51, from which tubular bags can be produced by transverse welding. The unwound section passes through two spring-loaded press rollers 52, 53 that roll against each other. At the upper end of the unwound section, a vacuum bar 54, 55 can be seen on each side, each with an integrated, electrically heated sealing bar 56.

[0050] From this initial state, the two vacuum bars 54, 55 are pressed against the hose material 51, which adhere to both sides of the hose material 51 and are then moved upwards by motor, unwinding hose material 51 from the roll 50 and drawing it through the two press rollers 52, 53, so that finally the state is as shown in Figure 16 The press rollers 52, 53 can be driven by a motor if required, and torque-controlled if required, so that under no circumstances can the tubular bag opening tear away from the vacuum bars 54, 55. This was shown in the illustration. Figure 12 A section of tubing is pulled up to form a single tubular bag and it continues to be held in this position by the vacuum bars 54, 55.

[0051] The next step is in Figure 17As shown: Two electrically heated welding bars 58, 59 with heating strips 57 for welding are moved from both sides above the press rollers 52, 53 towards the hose material 51 and pressed together. Then a transverse welding of the hose material 51 takes place at this point, forming a bag from the hose section that is tightly closed at the bottom and open at the top.

[0052] What happens next is shown in the Figure 18Here, the vacuum pumps 76, 77 for the vacuum bars 54, 55 are shown. The two lower sealing bars 58, 59 have already been extended to the position shown here, and the two upper vacuum bars 54, 55 are also extending slightly apart. As a result, the end sections 60, 61 of the tubing material 51 detach from the vacuum bars 54, 55 and their heating / sealing bars 56, as indicated by the curved arrows, while half of the tubing width in the middle section remains held by the vacuum bars 54, 55. This results in a square opening 62 in the tubular bag 63. At the bottom of the tubular bag 63, a welded, band-shaped area 64 extending transversely across the tubing 51 can be seen.

[0053] The next step, as in Figure 19As shown, the tubular bag 63 is cut along the center of this band-shaped area 64 by a cutting device 65 with a cutting blade 66. The cutting blade 66 travels along a beam of the cutting device 65, and its cutting edges 67, which run obliquely to the plane of the tubular material, cut through the tubular bag 51. Meanwhile, the welding bars 58, 59 with their electrically heated welding strips 57 have moved translationally away from the tubular bag 51 by their drive mechanism.

[0054] Now bag 63 is held freely by the upper vacuum bars 54, 55. As the Figure 20As shown, the cutting device 65 is also moved translationally away from the tube 51, and a motor-driven support plate 75 is moved under the hanging bag 63. The vacuum bars 54, 55 are then moved downwards until the bag 63 rests loosely on the support plate 75, i.e., it is no longer hanging. In this state, the valve 7 located above the tubular bag packaging unit 9 ( Figure 6 ) a feed tube 68 is lowered a short distance into the bag 63 which is held open at the top and a portion of solid material 69 is dropped into the bag 63.

[0055] The next Figure 21 Figure 9 shows the tubular bag packaging unit with the filled bag 63, still open at the top and resting on the support plate 75, after retraction of the feed tube 68 and after insertion of an air tube 70 into the bag 63 from above. The bag 63 is now bulged with its contents. Figure 22The diagram shows the tubular bag packaging unit 9 during the subsequent sealing of the upper bag opening 62 of the bag 63. The vacuum bars 54, 55 move towards each other as indicated by the dashed arrows and clamp the bag opening 62 between them. Figure 23 Figure 7 shows the final state. Now, as needed, some air is pumped into the bag 63 via the air tube 70, causing it to bulge to contain air so that it can later float reliably in the sewer. The extent of this bulging of the resulting bag 63 can be controlled by the internal pressure. As soon as a set pressure is reached, the air pump switches off. Alternatively, the bag bulge can be limited by the expansion of the bulges, for example, by double-sided photoelectric sensors 83. As soon as the photoelectric sensors 83 are interrupted, the air pump switches off.

[0056] Finally, the bag is sealed at the entry point of the air tube 70, as can be seen from the Figure 24 The process is explained, and then the air tube 70 is withdrawn upwards from the bag 63. This hermetically seals the bag 63 with its contents and a portion of air. In this state, the bag 63 is firmly clamped and securely held at the top, while still resting on the support plate 75 at the bottom. The vacuum seals 54, 55, which close around the air tube 70, seal the bag opening with their integrated sealing bars 56.

[0057] The Figure 24Figure 1 shows a solution for how the vacuum bars 54, 55 with their sealing bars 56 are designed so that the bag 63 is first sealed along the straight sections 56 of the sealing bars, while air is subsequently blown into the bag 63 via the air tube 70. The vacuum bars 54, 55 each have a recess 79 in the middle, allowing them to close tightly around the inserted air tube 70. At this recess, they extend downwards into a hollow projection 82 facing the air tube 70, into which the opening 80 of the air tube 70 extends. Arc-shaped sealing bars 81 extend along the edge of this projection.With the vacuum bars 54 and 55 still retracted and tightly enclosing the air tube 70 in their center, the straight sections of the sealing bar 56 on both sides of the air tube 70 are activated to seal the bag 63, and the bag is sealed along these sections. Air can then still be pumped into the bag 63 via the air tube 70 and its opening 80 until it bulges sufficiently. Only then are the curved sealing bars 81 activated, sealing the area of ​​the bag 63 around the opening 80 of the air tube 70. The bag is thus hermetically sealed and closed, and is still held in place by the vacuum bars 54 and 55.

[0058] The situation is as follows: Figure 25Figure 1 shows the filled, hermetically sealed bag 63 hanging freely from the two vacuum bars 54, 55 after the support plate 75 has been moved laterally. In the next step, as shown in Figure 2, the following steps are performed: Figure 26 As shown, a sliding plate 71 is moved obliquely under the hanging bag 63, and then the vacuum bars 54, 55 are moved apart after ventilation into the position in which they are in Figure 26 The bag 63 is shown, and thus it drops onto this sliding plate 71 into the drain pipe 31 and subsequently into the sewer, as indicated by the arrows. The drain pipe 31 is equipped here with a spring-loaded odor flap 87 to prevent odors from the sewer from entering the entire facility.

[0059] A particularly advantageous implementation of pouch packaging for producing pouches with rounded tops and bottoms is shown in the following figures. Figure 27 Figure 1 shows the special arc-shaped design of the lower sealing bars 83, 84. When a piece of tubular bag material is pulled up by the vacuum bars 55, 54, these two arc-shaped sealing bars 83, 84 move together as indicated by the arrows and clamp the tubular material 51 between them. Next, a sealing action is performed by these two sealing bars 83, 84, which seals the tubular bag material 51 at the bottom in an arc-shaped manner. Simultaneously, the material outside and below the sealing bars 83, 84 is cut away by special arc-shaped blades on the sealing bars 83, 84 and falls into a collection container (not shown), from which these scraps can be emptied periodically.

[0060] The Figure 28The figure shows the situation after the two arc-shaped sealing bars 83, 84 with their electrically heated sealing strips 56 have separated. The lower, tight seal is indicated by a thick dashed line, resulting in a bag 63 that is open at the top, similar to the one held open in a square shape by the upper vacuum strips 55, 54, as previously described. One of the two arc-shaped upper sealing bars 85 is also shown in this figure. After the solids are released from the portioning device and fall into the open-topped bag 63, it must also be sealed at the top.

[0061] This is in Figure 29As shown, the upper vacuum bars 55, 54 move together and close the upper opening or mouth of the tubular bag 63 around the air tube 70, which still protrudes into the bag. Now, a controlled amount of air is blown into the bag through the air tube 70, so that it assumes the desired convex shape, bulging forwards and backwards. The air serves the purpose of generating sufficient buoyancy for the finished tubular bag in the sewer system so that it can float, or at least nearly float, with sufficient buoyancy in the sewer pipes. After this filling with air, the two upper arc-shaped sealing bars 85, 86 move together as indicated by the arrows and clamp the tubular bag 63 between them.Then the hose material is tightly welded, and simultaneously the excess pieces of foil above the welding bars 85, 86 are cut or punched away by the curved blades of knives that extend along the length of the electrically heated welding bars 56 above them. The foil scraps fall into the aforementioned collection container.

[0062] After the welding bars 85, 86 were moved away from the finished tubular bag 63, the situation appears as shown in Figure 30 A tubular bag 63, curved at the top and bottom, with straight edges on both sides and bulging towards the front and back, contains a defined portion of solids together with a defined quantity of air. It is suspended here between the vacuum bars 55, 54, which were used for sealing around the lower opening of the air tube 70.

[0063] The Figure 31 Figure 1 shows what happens next. The air tube 70 is pulled upwards a short distance. After a sliding channel or trough 71 or a sliding plate has been moved from below under the support plate 75, the support plate 75 is pulled away. The pouch 63 is released downwards over this sliding channel or trough 71 or sliding plate by venting the vacuum bars 55, 54, which then move apart into the position shown here. The pouch 63 then slides into a collection tube 31 and falls downwards through a spring-loaded odor flap 87, which is pivotably mounted in a housing 88, and finally into the sewer.

[0064] In Figure 32The design of an arc-shaped welding bar 83-86 is shown. It has an arc-shaped, electrically heated welding bar 56, and an arc-shaped knife 73 with a sharp blade extends radially outside the same, parallel to this electrically heated welding bar 56. These arc-shaped knives 73 are advantageously arranged with their backs in the arc-shaped welding bar 83-86 in a slightly elastically compliant manner, for example by means of a spring plate arranged underneath or by means of a rubber-elastic profile as shown.

[0065] Finally, the Figure 33The finished, welded, and die-cut bag 63 in its final state. Bag 63 is arc-shaped, almost circular, except for two straight sections, and bulges out at both the top and bottom. Such bags 63 slide or float easily with the wastewater in the sewer system and eventually reach either a separate collection station for occasional emptying or a wastewater treatment plant intact, where they float to the surface in the settling tank and can be removed for further processing.

[0066] The Figure 34 shows a photographically captured tubular bag 63 from a prototype plant, with which the technical proof was successfully provided that such tubular bags 63 with a proportion of solids in them can actually be produced without further ado and can be flushed along in the sewer system without being damaged.

[0067] Overall, this concept uses significantly less fresh water and relieves the burden on wastewater treatment plants by specifically separating the solids from the rinse water, preventing them from mixing thoroughly with it and subsequently requiring costly separation in the wastewater treatment plant.

[0068] The method of disposal of bags 63 containing solids can, in principle, be left open here. They will probably be best treated thermally, with the resulting heat then being usable as process heat or for heating water in decentralized systems.

[0069] As a postscript, the following should also be mentioned: The entire system and all its components are automatically monitored and controlled by a PLC controller with computer 18, which controls all the described functions. The system preferably includes remote monitoring so that any malfunctions are immediately detected and indicated by a visual and audible alarm, or such a message can be transmitted via an electronic network or the internet to the smartphones of the residents and / or a service company. For example, it can indicate when the roll 50 of tubular film material 51 is running low and needs to be replaced. When the roll is used up, the tubular bag packaging unit 9 is stopped, so that no further solid encapsulation is possible until the new roll 50 arrives in the form of a replacement cassette 10 ( Figure 4) is installed and ready for operation. Until this is completed, the rotary valve 21 switches to direct drainage into the sewer and the WC 100 is used in the conventional way. For house or settlement depots 117 ( Figure 3The fill level of these units is monitored and reported to the residents, or directly to a waste disposal service provider, who assumes responsibility for ensuring that these depots 117 are always emptied on time and always have sufficient free capacity. If the fill level reaches an adjustable maximum, the pouch packaging unit 9 is blocked, preventing further disposals using pouches. Instead, the rotary valve 21 is switched to direct drainage into the sewer, and the toilet can be used conventionally. Because the entire unit can be housed in a single installation module 1, it can ideally be designed to be so compact that it can also be connected to existing toilets as a cost-effective replacement solution.Unlike conventional toilets already installed, the drainage of the hermetically sealed bags63 requires a separate supply line and connection to the existing drainpipe. Otherwise, the entire installation module fits into the standardized installation bays for wall-hung toilet cisterns. This system significantly reduces the load on public wastewater treatment plants, a benefit greatly welcomed by the wastewater management industry. Depending on the subsequent treatment of the excrement encapsulated in the pillow-shaped bags63, there is the possibility of reusing the waste. The system allows for the use of standard toilet bowls from well-known manufacturers. Installation in frame elements (Duo Fix) with the specified connection dimensions is possible for both the installation modules and standard toilet bowls.The serviceable part of the system, i.e., the installation module 1, can be replaced as a single unit (insert). Operating this system does not impose any additional burdens on the conventional disposal system – on the contrary, it can ultimately be more cost-effective overall. The system operates odorlessly because it is completely hermetically encapsulated and sealed. The system can be operated with minimal effort and convenience for the operator. Only a replacement cassette containing a new roll 50 of tubing material 51 needs to be inserted from time to time. Optionally, LEDs and webcams can be installed inside the solids separation tank 3 and the solids tank 5 located above it, as well as inside the tubular bag packaging unit 9, so that the processes in the individual components can be monitored externally on a screen as needed.The operating panel 20 allows for traceability, and any malfunctions can be inspected and analyzed without having to open anything. Video clips can be sent to a service center as needed, so they are immediately informed of any necessary actions. The bags 63, as well as the collected urine (optionally), are conveniently drained into a dedicated pipe system within the building and removed. This system can be implemented as a modular unit with standard dimensions, similar to current lightweight systems from manufacturers such as Geberit (Duofix & GIS), Nussbaum (Optivis-Tec), or Grohe Germany. The standard width for wall installation is 500 mm or 750 mm, the height is variable and can be, for example, 1120 mm, and the depth is approximately 280 mm. These standard dimensions are the same for all other suppliers.This makes it possible to connect and operate any type of toilet using a suitable module for this existing installation. Directory of numbers

[0070] 1. Installation module for solids separation and pouch packaging 2. Connection pipe for drain pipe 107 from WC bowl 100 3. Solids separation tank 4. Riser pipe 5. Solids tank at the top of the module 6. Portioning device 7. Valve 8. Downpipe 9. Pouch packaging unit 10. Exchange cassette in 9 11. Drain pipe in the module 12. Cistern in the module 13. Greywater tank in the module 14. Brownwater tank in the module 15. Cross braces on steel frame of 1 16. Connection for flush water in 1 17. Power supply of 1 18. Electronic computer unit / PLC control in 1 19. Ultraviolet disinfection system in 1 20. Control panel in 1 21. Rotary valve 22. Pipe directly into the downpipe 24 23. Pipe into the solids separation tank 3 24. Downpipe into the Sewerage ( Figure 5 ) 25 separate drainage for urine ( Figure 626 Agitator with paddle wheel as shredder 27 Tank bottom 28 Solids pump 29 Retention screen 30 Valve in riser pipe 4 31 Outlet pipe to sewer 32 Transfer pump for brown water to UV disinfection unit 19 33 Vent line for solids tank 5 34 Emergency line from portioning device 6 35 Motor-driven valve in emergency line 34 to pipe 31 36 Rotor housing 37 Inlet opening in 36 38 Swivel lever in rotor housing 39 Through channel 40 Rotor housing bottom 41 Outlet opening 42 Electric double drive for two coaxial axes 43 Rotor 44 Axis for rotor 43 45 Axis for swivel lever 38 46 Fresh water line to grey water tank 47 Axis to rotor 43 48 Axis to swivel lever 38 49 Steel frame of module 1 50 Endless roll of hose 51 Hose 52, 53 Press rollers 54, 55 Vacuum strips 56 Heating / welding strip on 54, 55 57 Heating / welding strip on 58, 59 58, 59 Lower welding bars 60 End of hose material on one side 61 End of hose material on the other side62 Square opening, hose outlet 63 Tubular bag 64 Band-shaped welded area in the hose 65 Cutting device 66 Cutting blade 67 Cutting edges of the cutting blade 66 68 Feed pipe for solids into the tubular bag 63 69 Solid portion 70 Air pipe 71 Sliding plate, sliding channel, sliding groove 72 Interface around circular cushion-shaped bag 73 Blade on semicircular welding bar 74 Corner areas of the bag before cutting 75 Support plate 76 Vacuum pump for vacuum bar 54 77 Vacuum pump for vacuum bar 55 78 Overflow line from solids separation tank 3 into brown water tank 14 79 Recess in suction bar 55 for air pipe 70 80 Outlet of the air pipe 70 81 Arc-shaped weld around the outlet 80 of the air tube 70 82 extension on the welding bars 55, 54 for enclosing the mouth 80 air tube 70 83 lower front arc-shaped welding bar 84 lower rear arc-shaped welding bar 85 upper front arc-shaped welding bar 86 upper rear arc-shapedWelding bar 87 Spring-loaded odor flap 88 Housing for odor flap 89 Solid particles sensors 90 Cleaning valve 91 Overflow valve 92 Rubber-elastic profile under the blade 73 93 Valve for grey water tank 94 Valve to fresh water tank 95 Fresh water tank rinse valve 96 Vent line 97 Fresh water tank feed valve 98 Grey water tank feed valve 13 99 Supply line from the disinfection unit to the grey water tank 100 Toilet bowl 101 Platform-shaped base in toilet 100 102 Sloping edge of the base 101 103 Collection chamber in toilet 100 104 Small siphon for urine 105 Small pipe for urine 106 Siphon water 107 Drain pipe to the sewer 108 Large siphon for outlet with Solids 109 Wastewater channel to sewage treatment plant 110 Drain pipe for urine 111 Larger drain pipe for discharge with solids 112 Bathtub drain pipe 113 Bathtub 114 Sink 115 Washing machine 117 Collection container 119 Sewerage 120 Inlet pipe for lift 121 Lift basket 122 Slots on the lift basket 123 Swivel base plate124 Threaded rods 125 Guide thread nuts 126 Drive motor 127 Timing belt 128 Guide profiles 129 Guide ribs on the lift basket 121 130 Swivel axis of the lift basket 131 Discharge chute 200 Mounting frame 201 Cistern 202 Mounting frame feet 203 Threaded bushings 204 Connection spigot for toilet drain 205 Connection pipe for toilet flush 207 Electrical connections 209 Keypad 210 Display above the toilet

Claims

1. Method for separating solids from a water closet (100) after its siphon (108), wherein the solids are packed together with a proportion of air into individual bags (63) of a continuously fed hose (51) and the buoyant bags (63) are hermetically sealed and individually discharged into the sewer system (119).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein a device is used which includes a lift system with a lift basket (121) with slots (122) in its side walls and a bottom (123) that can be folded down against spring force, and which lift basket (121) can be raised by motor and guided on profiles (128) and can be swung out laterally about a transverse axis (130) in the uppermost position, whereupon its bottom (123) can be folded out to tip the solids contained therein through a discharge chute (131) into the portioning device located below, whereby a) the solids are fed into a solids separation tank (3), from which they fall in portions from above into the lift basket (121) of the lift system, b) the solids are transported upwards in the lift basket (121) of the lift system and simultaneously drip through the lift basket (121), c) the solids from the lift basket (121) enter a portioning device (6), from which the solids are released in portions (69) through a valve (7) and dropped into the opening (62) of a tubular bag (63) which is kept open at the top, wherein the tubular bag (63) is produced at the bottom by a transverse weld (64) from a tube (51) fed endlessly from below from a roll (50) and is held in the opening area by vacuum strips (54, 55) in the mouth area and cut away from the endless tube (51) below the transverse weld (64), whereupon a support plate (75) is moved under the bag (63) and the bag (63) is placed on it (75), d) the bag (63) is sealed after filling and blowing in air by welding the opening (62), e) the bag (63) is dropped onto a sliding chute or slide (71) or a sliding plate by releasing and moving apart the vacuum bars (55, 54), after which it is discharged into the sewer system via a drain pipe (31).

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein a) the solids are fed into a solids separation tank (3), in which they are chopped up into a thick slurry and sink to the bottom (27), b) the thick slurry is conveyed by means of a solids pump (28) into an elevated solids tank (5), c) the viscous slurry is divided into portions (69) by means of a portioning device (6) and discharged through a valve (7) into the open top (62) of a tubular bag (63), the tubular bag (63) being produced at the bottom by a transverse weld (64) from a tube (51) fed endlessly from below from a roll (50) and held in the mouth area by vacuum strips (54, 55) in the mouth area and cut away from the endless tube (51) below the transverse weld (64), whereupon a support plate (75) is moved under the bag (63) and the bag (63) is placed on it (75), d) after filling and blowing in air, the bag (63) is sealed by welding the opening (62), e) the bag (63) is dropped onto a sliding chute or sliding channel (71) or sliding plate by releasing and moving apart the vacuum strips (55, 54), after which it is discharged into the sewer system via a drain pipe (31).

4. Method according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the solid excrement and the urine, if not previously drained separately, enter the solid waste separation tank (3) from the toilet bowl (100) via a siphon and rotary valve (21) after flushing the grey water tank (13) located above, the solids mixed with grey water are pumped upwards via a riser pipe (4) into a solids tank (5), the excess grey water flows back into the brown water tank (14) via an overflow pipe 78, the contents of the brown water tank are reduced to 2 litres, a follow-up flush from the fresh water tank (12) with approximately 2 litres is carried out to flush the toilet siphon, and this relatively clean water flows back into the brown water tank (14), and after completion of this second filling process, the brown water is transported to a UV disinfection system (19) located above, and the brown water tank is filled with fresh water as required.

5. Method according to one of claims 2 or 4, wherein a) in the case of pure urine discharge by the user, the flush is triggered by pressing a smaller of two buttons, and a rotary valve (21) is set to a position so that the urine flows conventionally into the outlet pipe (31) and thus into the sewer system, b) in the event of incorrect operation of a larger button of these two buttons, after no solids have been discharged, a 4-litre grey water flush is triggered without fresh water flushing, and the unused grey water is fed into the brown water tank (14), after which the grey water is pumped back into the grey water tank (13), c) in the event of an overload of the device, it switches to emergency mode by switching a rotary valve (21) to a position (2) so that a flush is performed from the fresh water flush tank (12) and everything, i.e. the urine and solids, is discharged directly into the sewer system, and then the device switches back to normal mode.

6. Device for separating solids, comprising a water closet (100) with a bowl which has an additional platform-shaped base (101) at the front, which extends from the front towards approximately the centre of the bowl (100) and ends there in a sloping drip nose (102), so that urine can be collected on this base (101) can be collected via the drip nose (102) in a collection chamber (103) connected below and via a small siphon (104) of the water closet (100) and a separate, small-dimensioned pipe (105) into a separate container of the device and collected there, and wherein solid excrement falls behind the drip nose (102) into the siphon water (106) of a large siphon (108) of the water closet (100) and then into a drain pipe (107) which leads out of the rear of the siphon (108) from the toilet bowl (100), whereby the facility includes, following the large siphon (108), at least the following technical components for treating the siphon outlet in a system that is closed within the facility and thus odour-tight: • A solids separation tank (3) for collecting the solids, • A solids pump (28) for conveying the separated solids upwards in a riser pipe (4) into a high-level solids tank (5) or a lift system with a lift basket (121) for conveying the solids upwards and simultaneously draining them and for tipping them out, • A portioning device (6) with a valve (7) for dropping portions of solids (69) received from the solids pump (28) or the lift basket (121) into a tubular bag packaging unit (9) located below, • A tubular bag packaging unit (9) for producing hermetically sealed and subsequently separated bags (63) containing solids and a proportion of air from a tube (51) fed continuously within the system, for discharge into the sewer system.

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein it includes the following components within the closed system: a lift system with a catch basket (121) with slots (122) or holes in its side walls and a bottom (123) that can be folded down against spring force, which catch basket (121) can be raised by motor and guided on profiles (128) arranged in the device (128) arranged in the device and can be swung out laterally in the uppermost position about a transverse axis (130), whereby its bottom (123) can then be folded out by motor, for tipping the solids contained therein through a discharge chute (131) on the device into the associated portioning device located below.

8. Device according to claim 6, wherein it has the following components above the water closet (100) and within the closed system: a fresh water tank (12) and a grey water tank (13) for the successive flushing of the water closet (100), first with grey water and then with fresh water, a brown water tank (14) below the water closet (100), which is fed by an overflow pipe (78) from the solid matter separation tank (3), and further a pump (32) for conveying the brown water into a UV disinfection unit (19) arranged in this closed system above the grey water tank (13), which can be fed by a fresh water supply line (99).

9. Device according to one of claims 6 to 7, wherein the solids separation tank (3) for collecting the solids contains an agitator (26) with a paddle wheel for chopping the solids into a thick slurry, and has a conical bottom (27) for sucking the solids slurry through the solids pump (28), and the riser pipe (4) for conveying the solids upwards has an electrically operated shut-off valve (30) to prevent backflow when the solids pump (28) is at a standstill.

10. Device according to one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the portioning device (6) has a rotor housing (36) with an inlet opening (37) at the top and an outlet opening at the bottom, with a rotatable swivel lever (38) therein, and a rotor (43) in the rotor housing (36) has a passage channel (39), and the portioning device (6) has an electric double drive (42) with two coaxial axes (47, 48) for rotating the rotor (43) and the pivot lever (38) in both directions of rotation.

11. Device according to one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the tubular bag packaging unit (9) includes the following components: a tube (51) that can be fed endlessly from a roll (50), two press rollers (52, 53) that roll off each other (52, 53) for rolling the endlessly feedable tube (51) from bottom to top, with two vacuum strips (54, 55) at the top that can be moved towards and away from each other, each with a sealing strip (56), whereby these vacuum bars (54, 55) can grip and pull up the upper end of the tube by suction, and then open it to form a rectangular opening (62) by moving the vacuum bars (54, 55) apart, and furthermore two lower welding bars (58, 59) for straight or curved transverse welding of the tube (51) below a bag length measured from the upper opening (62), and a cutting device (65) for cutting off the tube (51) below the straight or curved transverse weld (64).

12. Device according to one of claims 6 to 11, wherein it has two curved welding bar pairs (83, 84; 85, 86), namely a lower pair (83, 84) with the inside of the curve facing upwards, and an upper curved welding bar pair (85, 86) with the inner side of the arc facing downwards, for producing an initially lower arc-shaped weld on the bag material (51) and, after filling, for producing an upper arc-shaped weld on the bag material, thereby producing an approximately round bag (63) bulging at the front and rear, and wherein the upper and lower pairs of arcuate sealing bars (83, 84; 85, 86) are equipped with knives (73) extending radially outside the sealing bars for cutting off the film remnants outside the produced approximately round bag (63).

13. Device according to claim 11, wherein the tubular bag packaging unit (9) includes an air pipe (70) that can be lowered into the bag opening for blowing air into the bag (63) filled with solid portions, wherein the bag opening (62) can be closed around the air pipe (70) and sealed by its sealing bars (56) by bringing the vacuum strips (54, 55) the bag opening (62) around the air tube (70) can be sealed and welded by its welding bars (56), and after pulling the air pipe (70) upwards, the location there in the opening (62) can also be sealed, so that a hermetically sealed bag (63) containing air and solid portions (69) can be produced.

14. Device according to one of claims 6 to 13, wherein it includes a slide chute or slide channel (71) or slide plate as an inclined plane for the hermetically sealed bags (63), as well as a support plate (75) that can be moved in and out of the area below the bag (63) by a motor, so that after a support plate (75) is extended or retracted and the vacuum strips (54, 55) are released, the bag (63) can slide down the slide plate (71) into a drain pipe (31) with a spring-loaded odour trap (87) and, after passing through this, into the sewer system.

15. Device according to one of claims 6 to 14, wherein it has an electrically operable 120° rotary valve (21) after its water closet (100) and the latter's large siphon (108), which forms a diverter with three setting positions, with a first position for normal operation, for forwarding the incoming flushing material consisting of water, possibly urine if this is not collected separately, and solids such as excrement and toilet paper into the subsequent solids separation tank (3), with a second position for fault operation to directly discharge the flushed material into the sewer system in the conventional manner, and a third position for cleaning operation to backwash the downstream solid matter separation tank (3), whereby both this rotary valve (21) and the solid matter separation tank (3) can be flushed through by means of cleaning nozzles suitably arranged inside.

16. Device according to one of claims 6 to 15, wherein it includes an electronic control unit PLC (18) for processing electrical signals from all components and for controlling the same, and in that spray nozzles for cleaning areas susceptible to dirt and webcams are installed inside the device for monitoring the condition of the device and the processes inside it in real time.

17. Device according to claim 15, comprising an electronic control unit PLC (18) for processing electrical signals from the following components and for controlling them for electronic control: a) the motor-driven 120° rotary valve (21), b) the agitator (26) in the solids separation tank (3), c) the solids pump (28) for conveying the solids upwards, or the lift system with the lift basket (121) that can be conveyed upwards and tipped out at the top, d) the shut-off valve (30) in the riser pipe (4), e) the portioning device (6), f) the valve (7) below the portioning device (6), g) the motor-driven horizontally and vertically movable vacuum strips (54, 55; 83, 84) for the opening (62) of the tubular bags (63), their vacuum power and their integrated sealing strips (56), h) the motor-driven horizontally and laterally movable vacuum strips (58, 59; 83, 84) for cross-sealing or arc-shaped sealing of the bags (63) along their bottom to be created, i) the support plate (75) which can be moved by motor under the respective hanging bag (63), j) the sliding plate (71) or the sliding channel or the sliding trough or sliding plate as an inclined plane, which can be moved under a filled bag (63), k) the brown water pump (32), l) the UV disinfection unit (19), m) all pipe valves, n) all spray nozzles for sporadic internal cleaning of the device, o) all monitoring elements such as cameras, sensors, etc.

18. Device according to one of claims 6 to 17, wherein its components are installed as a complete built-in module (1) in a steel frame (49) of the device and this steel frame (49) fits into the standard installation bay of a wall-mounted toilet, i.e. measuring a maximum of 750 mm in width, 280 mm in depth and 1500 mm to 2200 mm in height.