Vacuum toilet and container for such a toilet

Abstract

A vacuum toilet comprises a toilet bowl, a transfer tank (5) having a first container interior (6), and a flushing water container (7) having a second container interior (8). The flushing water container (7) is designed and connected in such a way that flushing water, by means of a positive pressure which can be applied in the flushing water container (7), can be conveyed from the latter into the toilet bowl. The transfer tank (4) is designed and connected in such a way that suction-extraction substance can be sucked out of the toilet bowl into the transfer tank (5) by means of a negative pressure which can be applied in the transfer tank (5). The transfer tank (5) and the flushing water container (7) are formed by a container body (3) which has a separating wall (9) with a first side (10) and, directed away from the first side (10), a second side (11). The first side (10) delimits the first container interior (6) of the transfer tank (5), and the second side (12) delimits the second container interior (8) of the flushing water container (7).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a vacuum toilet and a container body for such a vacuum toilet. The vacuum toilet comprises a toilet bowl and a container body, for example, a transfer tank with a first container interior and a flush water container with a second container interior. The flush water container is designed and connected in such a way that flush water can be conveyed from the flush water container into the toilet bowl using an overpressure that can be applied to the flush water container. The transfer tank is designed and connected in such a way that suction material can be sucked from the toilet bowl into the transfer tank using a negative pressure that can be applied to the transfer tank.

[0002] Vacuum toilets are used, for example, as mobile toilets in vehicles (such as rail vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, buses, etc.) and offer the possibility of extracting waste from the toilet bowl using a vacuum and transferring it to a wastewater reservoir, e.g. a tank.

[0003] Such a vacuum toilet is known, for example, from EP 1 913 208 B1. The vacuum toilet comprises a seat, a bowl arranged underneath, a pipe, and controlled valves for transporting the suction material from the bowl into a transfer tank and from there into a wastewater line. The vacuum toilet further comprises a flush water tank from which flush water can be pumped into the bowl. The transfer tank, the flush water tank, the pipes, and the valves are essentially housed in the space below the seat. The manufacture of the transfer tank and the flush water tank, and their installation on the vacuum toilet, are complex and cost-intensive.

[0004] A vacuum toilet with a toilet bowl, a wastewater tank, and a flush water tank is already known from DE202014005775U1. The flush water tank is pressurized to deliver flush water to nozzles in a flush line. The wastewater tank is pressurized to extract wastewater from the toilet bowl.

[0005] EP3225223B1 already discloses a mobile urinal with automatic flushing. Wastewater is drained by gravity into a wastewater tank. A pump pumps flushing water from a flushing water tank. A flat partition separates the wastewater tank from the flushing water tank.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum toilet which is easy to manufacture and enables simplified assembly of the transfer tank and the flush water tank.

[0007] This problem is solved by a vacuum toilet with the features of claim 1.

[0008] According to the present invention, the transfer tank and the rinse water container are formed by a container body having a dividing wall with a first side and a second side facing away from the first side. The first side delimits the first container interior of the transfer tank, and the second side delimits the second container interior of the rinse water container. In other words, the transfer tank and the rinse water container are formed as a single component, for example, using an injection molding or rotational molding process. However, other manufacturing methods are also conceivable. For example, the container body can be made of metal, in particular sheet metal, with individual pieces of metal or sheet metal being sealingly connected to one another by welding.

[0009] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "absorbent mass" refers to the mass removed from the toilet bowl when flushing it. The absorbent mass may contain flushing water, feces, and other constituents.

[0010] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "negative pressure" is understood to mean a pressure that is less than atmospheric pressure at sea level, in particular less than 1.013 bar. For example, a negative pressure is 0.5 bar to 1.013 bar.

[0011] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "overpressure" refers to a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure at sea level, in particular greater than 1.013 bar. For example, an overpressure is 2 bar to 6 bar.

[0012] The partition preferably forms the flush water tank in the shape of a hollow truncated cone, wherein the flush water tank has a base with a first opening designed as a drain opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end opposite the first end. For example, the drain opening is connected to the toilet bowl via several hoses so that flush water can be pumped from the flush water tank into the toilet bowl via several inlets in the bowl. The drain opening is preferably arranged at the lowest point of the flush water tank to enable complete emptying of the flush water tank. The flush water tank is preferably filled with a quantity of flush water that is sufficient for a single flush of the toilet bowl.Alternatively, it is also possible to dimension the flush water tank in such a way that it can hold a quantity of water sufficient for multiple flushes of the toilet bowl.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the rinse water container has a first inner diameter at its first end and a second inner diameter at its second end that is larger than the first inner diameter. The rinse water container widens from the first inner diameter towards the second end to the second inner diameter. The second opening is circular and has an opening diameter that is equal to the second inner diameter of the rinse water container. The second opening preferably extends over an entire end face of the hollow circular cylinder. Optionally, the rinse water container has a demolding slope along which the rinse water container widens. The demolding slope is preferably inclined by approximately 1° to 3° to a longitudinal axis of the rinse water container.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the container body has an outer wall, and the rinse water container is connected to the outer wall at its second end such that the second opening of the rinse water container is formed in the outer wall of the container body. This avoids undercuts in the rinse water container. If the container body is manufactured, for example, using an injection molding or rotational molding process, this enables easy removal of the container body from the mold.

[0015] Likewise, the second opening of the rinse water tank is preferably closed with a lid, wherein the lid has an inlet opening for filling the rinse water tank with rinse water and a compressed air opening. A float switch preferably also protrudes through the lid, which senses the fill level in the rinse water tank and interrupts the flow of rinse water through the inlet opening when a desired fill level is reached. Optionally, the transition between the lid and the rinse water tank is sealed with a gasket.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the lid is designed as a fastening receptacle for attaching system components of the vacuum toilet. For example, such system components can be valves, connections, hoses or further electronic components such as ejectors or pumps. The lid is preferably made of metal, thus enabling secure attachment. By designing the lid as a fastening receptacle, the system components can be attached quickly and easily. If, for example, the system components are a flush water connection via which flush water is filled into the flush water tank, the length of the hoses required to connect the flush water connection to the flush water tank is minimized. Optionally, the flush water connection is connected directly to the flush water tank, so that no connecting hoses are required.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the drain opening of the flush water tank is connected to a drain channel, and the drain channel is connected to the outer wall of the tank body such that a drain opening of the drain channel is formed in the outer wall. Preferably, the drain opening in the outer wall of the tank body enables individual hoses to be connected to the flush water tank. This is preferably achieved via a distributor piece that connects the drain opening to the individual hoses. The use of a drain channel enables the transfer tank to surround the flush water tank on the one hand, while allowing the flush water to drain from the flush water tank and be conveyed beyond the outer wall of the tank body toward the toilet bowl.

[0018] It is also preferred that the outer wall of the container body, together with the partition wall and an outer wall of the drain channel, form the transfer tank. The transfer tank and the rinsing tank are separated from each other only by the partition wall. Preferably, a first part of the partition wall forms the rinsing water tank, and a second part of the partition wall, together with the outer wall of the container body and the outer wall of the drain channel, forms the transfer tank. The first and second parts preferably adjoin one another in the longitudinal direction of the rinsing water tank.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the transfer tank is fluidically connected to the toilet bowl and can be fluidically connected to a wastewater reservoir. Preferably, a switchable valve is provided between the toilet bowl and the transfer tank, as well as between the wastewater reservoir and the transfer tank. Thus, with the valve open toward the toilet bowl, the suction compound can be suctioned into the transfer tank using negative pressure. Subsequently, with the valve between the toilet bowl and the transfer tank closed but open toward the wastewater reservoir, the suction compound can be pumped into the wastewater reservoir using positive pressure in the transfer tank.

[0020] The container body can preferably be manufactured using rotational or injection molding. These processes enable the simple production of complex geometries.

[0021] In another embodiment, the container body is made of polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA), or polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). These materials have been shown to be resistant to contact with suction material, especially feces.

[0022] The above-mentioned object is also achieved by using a container body with the features of claim 12. The container body for a vacuum toilet comprises a transfer tank with a first container interior and a flush water container with a second container interior. The flush water container is designed and connected in such a way that flush water can be conveyed from the flush water container into a toilet bowl of the vacuum toilet by means of an overpressure that can be applied in the flush water container. The transfer tank is designed and connected in such a way that suction mass can be sucked from the toilet bowl into the transfer tank by means of a negative pressure that can be applied in the transfer tank. The transfer tank and the flush water container are formed by the container body, wherein the container body has a partition wall with a first side and a second side facing away from the first side.The first side defines the first interior of the transfer tank, and the second side defines the second interior of the flush water tank. The tank body can be sold individually as a spare part, for example, or produced to order for a vacuum toilet manufacturer.

[0023] The invention is explained below with reference to a preferred embodiment shown in the figures.

[0024] The described embodiment does not represent a limitation of the generality of the subject matter defined in the claims. It shows: Figure 1 a perspective view of a vacuum toilet with a container body, Figure 2 a sectional view of the vacuum toilet with the container body according to Figure 1 and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the container body.

[0025] A vacuum toilet 1 is described below with reference to the Figures 1 to 3The vacuum toilet 1 comprises a toilet bowl 2 and a container body 3 with an outer wall 4. The container body 3 is made of polyethylene (PE) using a rotational or injection molding process. Alternatively, other materials, such as polyamide (PA) or polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), can be used for the production of the container body 3 using a rotational or injection molding process. Optionally, the container body can also be made of sheet metal that is sealed together by welding.

[0026] The container body 3 forms a transfer tank 5 with a first container interior 6 and a rinse water container 7 with a second container interior 8. The container body 3 has a partition wall 9 with a first side 10 and a second side 11 facing away from the first side. The first side 10 delimits the first container interior 6 of the transfer tank 5, and the second side 11 delimits the second container interior 8 of the rinse water container 7.

[0027] The flush water tank 7 is designed and connected in such a way that flush water can be conveyed from the flush water tank 7 into the toilet bowl 2 with the aid of an overpressure that can be applied therein. The flush water tank 7 has the shape of a hollow truncated cone and is formed by the partition wall 9 of the tank body 3. The flush water tank 7 has a base 13 at a first end 12 with a first opening designed as a drain opening 14. The drain opening 14 is arranged at the lowest point of the flush water tank 7. The flush water tank 7 has a second circular opening 16 with an opening diameter (D Open ) at a second end 15 opposite the first end 12.

[0028] The rinse water tank 7 has a first inner diameter D 1 at its first end 12 and a second inner diameter D 2 at its second end 15, which is larger than the first inner diameter D 1 . The rinse water tank 7 has a draft angle 28, along which it widens from the first inner diameter D 1 in the direction of the second end 15 to the second inner diameter D 2 . The opening diameter (D Open ) of the circular opening 16 corresponds to the second inner diameter D 2 at the second end 15 of the rinse water tank 7.

[0029] The rinse water tank 7 is connected at its second end 15 to the outer wall 4 of the tank body 3 such that the second opening 16 of the rinse water tank 7 is formed in the outer wall 4 of the tank body 3. The rinse water tank 7 is thus completely open at its upper end. The second opening 16 of the rinse water tank 7 is closed with a lid 17. The lid 17 has an inlet opening (not shown) for filling the rinse water tank with rinse water and a compressed air opening (not shown). A float switch 18 projects through the lid 17 into the rinse water tank 7. A seal 19 is arranged between the lid 17 and the tank body 3 and seals the connection between the lid 17 and the tank body 3.

[0030] The vacuum toilet 1 further comprises several system components, such as water and compressed air connections 20, a control unit 21, and an ejector 22. The control unit 21 is designed to control the ejector 22. The ejector 22 is suitable for generating positive pressures and negative pressures in both the flush water tank 7 and the transfer tank 5. The positive pressures in the transfer tank 5 can be approximately 2 bar. Positive pressures of approximately 5 bar can prevail in the flush water tank 7. The negative pressures in the transfer tank 5 are approximately 0.5 bar to 0.8 bar. The cover 17 is designed as a mounting receptacle for attaching the water and compressed air connections 20.

[0031] The drain opening 14 of the rinse water tank 7 is connected to a drain channel 23. The drain channel 23 has a channel drain opening 24 formed in the outer wall 4 of the tank body 3.

[0032] The transfer tank 5 of the vacuum toilet 1 has a first connection 25, via which the transfer tank 5 can be fluidically connected to the toilet bowl 2. The transfer tank 5 further has a second connection 26, via which the transfer tank 5 can be fluidically connected to a wastewater reservoir (not shown). The transfer tank 5 is formed by the outer wall of the container body 3 together with the partition wall 9 of the container body 3 and an outer wall 27 of the drain channel 23.

[0033] In the following, the function of the vacuum toilet 1 is described with reference to the Figures 1 to 3 explained.

[0034] Before using the vacuum toilet 1, the flush water tank 7 is filled with flush water from a flush water reservoir (not shown) via a water connection 20. Filling occurs until the float switch 18 in the lid 17 of the flush water tank 7 signals a predefined amount of flush water in the flush water tank 7. Preferably, the predefined amount of flush water is sufficient for a single flush of the toilet bowl 2. Alternatively, it is also possible to dimension the flush water tank 7 such that it can hold a quantity of water sufficient for multiple flushes of the toilet bowl 2.

[0035] If the toilet bowl 2 is to be flushed after using the vacuum toilet 1, this is communicated to the control unit 21 by the user of the vacuum toilet 1 pressing a switch (not shown). The control unit 21 then controls the ejector 22 such that it generates an overpressure of approximately 5 bar in the flush water tank 7 and thereby pumps the flush water contained in the flush water tank 7 into the toilet bowl 2 via the drain opening 14 of the flush water tank 7, the drain channel 23 and the associated hoses (not shown).

[0036] Thereafter, the control unit 21 closes a first valve between the toilet bowl 2 and the first connection 25 of the transfer tank 5 and a second valve between the second connection 26 of the transfer tank 5 and a waste water reservoir (not shown).

[0037] In a further step, the control unit 21 controls the ejector 22 such that it generates a negative pressure of approximately 0.5 bar to 0.8 bar in the transfer tank 5. After the first valve is opened, the negative pressure in the transfer tank 5 causes the suction mass located in the toilet bowl 2 to be sucked into the transfer tank 5.

[0038] The first valve is then closed again by means of the control unit 21, and an overpressure of approximately 2 bar is generated in the intermediate container in the transfer tank 5 via the ejector 22. After the second valve is opened, the suction mass in the transfer tank 5 flows into a wastewater reservoir connected to the transfer tank 5. List of reference symbols

[0039] 1Vacuum toilet 2Toilet bowl 3Tank body 4Outer wall (tank body) 5Transfer tank 6First tank interior (transfer tank) 7Flush water tank 8Second tank interior (flush water tank) 9Partition (tank body) 10First side (partition) 11Second side (partition) 12First end (flush water tank) 13Bottom (flush water tank) 14Drain opening (flush water tank) 15Second end (flush water tank) 16Second opening (flush water tank) D Opening diameter (second opening) D 1 First inner diameter (flush water tank) D 2 Second inner diameter (flush water tank) 17Cover 18Float switch 19Seal 20Water and compressed air connections 21Control unit 22Ejector 23Drain channel 24Channel drain opening 25First connection (transfer tank) 26Second connection (transfer tank) 27Outer wall (drain channel) 28Draft slope

Claims

1. Vacuum toilet with, a toilet bowl (2), a transfer container (5) with a first container interior (6) and a flushing water container (7) with a second tank interior (8), wherein the flushing water container (7) is designed and connected in such a way that flushing water can be conveyed from the flushing water container (7) into the toilet bowl (2) with the aid of an overpressure which can be applied in the flushing water container (7), and, wherein the transfer container (5) is designed and connected in such a way that suction mass can be sucked out of the toilet bowl (2) into the transfer container (5) with the aid of a vacuum which can be applied in the transfer container (5), characterized in that in that the transfer container (5) and the flushing water container (7) are formed by a container body (3) which has a partition wall (9) with a first side (10) and a second side (11) facing away from the first side (10), wherein the first side (10) delimits the first container interior (6) of the transfer container (5) and the second side (12) delimits the second container interior (8) of the flushing water container (7).

2. Vacuum toilet according to claim 1, characterized in that the partition wall (9) forms the flushing water container (7) in the form of a hollow truncated cone, the flushing water container (7) having at a first end (12) a base (13) with a first opening designed as a drain opening (14) and having at a second end (15) opposite the first end (12) a second opening (16).

3. Vacuum toilet according to claim 2, characterized in that the flushing water container (7) has a first internal diameter (D1) at its first end (12) and a second internal diameter (D2) at its second end (15) which is larger than the first internal diameter (D1), in that the flushing water container (7) widens from the first internal diameter (D1) in the direction of the second end (15) to the second internal diameter (D2), and in that the second opening (16) is circular and has an opening diameter (D2) which is equal to the second internal diameter (D2) of the flushing water container (7).

4. Vacuum toilet according to claim 2, characterized in that the container body (3) has an outer wall (4) and the flushing water container (7) is connected at its second end (15) to the outer wall (4) in such a way that the second opening (16) of the flushing water container (7) is formed in the outer wall (4) of the container body (3).

5. Vacuum toilet according to claim 2, characterized in that the second opening (16) of the flushing water container (7) is closed with a lid (17), the lid (17) having an inlet opening for filling the flushing water container (7) with flushing water and a compressed air opening.

6. Vacuum toilet according to claim 5, characterized in that the lid (17) is designed as a fastening receptacle for fastening system components (20) of the vacuum toilet (1).

7. Vacuum toilet according to claim 4, characterized in that the drain opening (14) of the flushing water container (7) is connected to a drain channel (23) and in that the drain channel (23) is connected to the outer wall (4) of the container body (3) in such a way that a channel drain opening (24) of the drain channel (23) is formed in the outer wall (4)8. Vacuum toilet according to claim 7, characterized in that the outer wall (4) of the container body (3) together with the partition wall (9) and an outer wall (4) of the drain channel (23) form the transfer container (5).

9. Vacuum toilet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transfer container (5) is fluidically connected to the toilet bowl (2) and can be fluidically connected to a waste water reservoir.

10. Vacuum toilet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container body (3) is manufactured by rotational moulding or injection moulding.

11. Vacuum toilet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container body (3) is made of polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA) or polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF).

12. Use of a container body for a vacuum toilet (1), wherein the container body (3) comprises: a transfer container (5) with a first container interior (6) and a flushing water container (7) with a second tank interior (8), wherein the flushing water container (7) is designed and connected in such a way that flushing water can be conveyed from the flushing water container (7) into a toilet bowl (2) of the vacuum toilet (1) with the aid of an overpressure which can be applied in the flushing water container (7), wherein the transfer container (5) is designed and connected in such a way that suction mass can be sucked out of the toilet bowl (2) into the transfer container (5) with the aid of a vacuum which can be applied in the transfer container (5), wherein the transfer container (5) and the flushing water container (7) are formed by the container body (3), wherein the container body (3) has a partition wall (9) with a first side (10) and a second side (11) facing away from the first side (10), and wherein the first side (10) delimits the first container interior (6) of the transfer container (5) and the second side (12) delimits the second container interior (8) of the flushing water container (7), in such a way that - flushing water is conveyed from the flushing water container (7) into a toilet bowl (2) of the vacuum toilet (1) by means of an overpressure created in the flushing water container (7), and - suction mass from the toilet bowl (2) is sucked into the transfer container (5) with the aid of a vacuum created in the transfer container (5).

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