Separation toilet for a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a separation toilet for a vehicle and to a vehicle having a separation toilet with a toilet bowl (1) and separate discharge lines for faeces and urine, wherein the discharge line (4) for faeces is arranged at the lowest point of the toilet bowl (1), wherein the toilet bowl (1) has an upper and a lower part (2, 3), wherein the lower part (3) is at least partially enclosed by the upper part (2), and an opening (5) for discharging the urine extends all the way around between the upper and lower part (2, 3).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Separate toilet for a vehicle

[0003] The invention relates to a separation toilet with a toilet bowl and separate drains for faeces and urine, wherein the drain for faeces is arranged at the lowest point of the toilet bowl, as well as to a vehicle with a separation toilet.

[0004] So-called separation toilets are already known, for example, from WO 92 / 19824 A1. Separate basins are provided there for collecting urine and other feces. JP 4 051404 B teaches a slot arranged in a toilet bowl for collecting urine.

[0005] Another separation toilet is shown in WO 2014 / 022873 A2. At the time of this application, further details of this separation toilet (NoMix Toilet) are available at https: / / www.urinetrap.com / . Urine is drained into a separate drain – the urine trap – using surface tension and is thus separated from the rest, in particular from feces or other solids. Urine is drained away by gravity via the urine trap, while most of the flush water ends up in the sewer system because it overflows the urine trap due to the special shape of the toilet and the pressure with which it is released into the toilet.

[0006] The described arrangement of the two outlet openings for liquid and solid waste inevitably results in limitations regarding the effectiveness of urine separation for sitting and standing positions. There are also limitations due to the different anatomies of male and female urinators. The object of the invention is to provide a separation toilet with effective separation of urine and solid waste.

[0007] This problem is solved by the subject matter of independent patent claim 1. Further developments and refinements of the invention are found in the features of the dependent patent claims.

[0008] A separation toilet according to the invention comprises a toilet bowl and separate drains for faeces and urine, wherein the drain for faeces is arranged at the lowest point of the toilet bowl and wherein the toilet bowl has an upper and a lower part, wherein the lower part is at least partially enclosed by the upper part and an opening for draining urine is arranged circumferentially between the upper and lower parts.

[0009] The toilet bowl is designed for both standing and sitting use and can also be referred to as a commode. It is bowl-shaped with an inner wall to collect and drain excretions. The inner wall is provided with a circumferential opening to drain urine. The circumferential opening can also be referred to as a circumferential urine trap. It can be relatively narrow, so the distance between the inner wall of the upper part and the inner wall of the lower part is relatively small.

[0010] The inner wall of the upper part of the toilet bowl is led continuously in a lower section at least partially behind the lower part of the toilet bowl and thus encloses this, in particular an upper section of the lower part of the toilet bowl, all around at least partially. The upper section of the lower part of the toilet bowl therefore projects slightly into the upper part of the toilet bowl and in the area of ​​the overlap the upper part encloses the lower part. The circumferential opening runs over 360° of the inner wall of the toilet bowl. In particular it runs in a substantially horizontal plane over the entire inner wall. This plane, which is spanned by the circumferential opening in the toilet bowl, can also be slightly inclined. According to a development, the circumferential opening for draining away the urine is arranged between the upper and lower parts in the lower third of the toilet bowl.

[0011] The circumferential urine trap guides the urine stream, independent of its point of impact on the inner wall of the upper part of the toilet bowl, through frictional forces, in a laminar flow along the inner wall of the upper part of the toilet bowl and into the circumferential opening. From there, the collected urine can be drained away via a separate urine drain from the fecal drain.

[0012] Only the urine stream which hits the central drain for faeces at the lowest point of the toilet bowl or below the surrounding urine trap on the lower part of the toilet bowl cannot be separated and is therefore drained away via the drain for faeces.

[0013] According to a further development of the invention, the upper part of the toilet bowl has a circumferential widening in the region of the circumferential opening of the toilet bowl, wherein the upper part encloses the lower part of the toilet bowl in the region of the circumferential widening. The circumferential widening is therefore arranged in the lower section of the upper part of the toilet bowl. The upper section of the lower part of the toilet bowl can therefore protrude into the upper part of the toilet bowl, whereby it is circumferentially enclosed by the upper part, free from a projection of the lower part towards the upper part or free from an inward offset in the course of the inner wall of the toilet bowl from the upper to the lower part in the region of the circumferential opening. The relatively narrow circumferential opening could therefore also be perceived by a user as a slot.

[0014] Urine hitting the upper part of the toilet bowl is drained away by gravity and utilizing surface tension via the upper part of the toilet bowl into the surrounding opening. For this purpose, the surrounding widening of the upper part of the toilet bowl can, according to a further development, be designed with a continuously running curve which is dimensioned in such a way that urine or other liquids of a given density and surface tension hitting and running down the upper part of the toilet bowl is drained away by gravity and utilizing surface tension via the curve of the surrounding widening into the surrounding opening. The curve could be referred to as the drainage curve, and the widening also as a bulge.The curve guides the drained urine behind the overlap between the upper and lower parts of the toilet bowl, where it can be collected if necessary and thus be drained separately from the feces. The circumferential opening could also be called an inlet opening.

[0015] According to a further development, the toilet bowl has a recess in its inner wall from the upper part to the lower part in the area of ​​the surrounding opening. Due to this recess between the upper and lower parts of the toilet bowl in the area of ​​the surrounding opening, the latter is visually concealed by the upper part and is barely visible to the user from above, while also being well protected against possible contamination by feces.

[0016] According to a further development, the toilet bowl has a circumferential collecting channel for urine, which is arranged below the circumferential opening. The collecting channel is thus arranged between the lower section of the upper part of the toilet bowl, which surrounds the lower part, and the upper section of the lower part of the toilet bowl and thus outside the inner wall of the toilet bowl. Due to the circumferential urine trap, the urine stream is guided in a laminar manner along the inner wall of the upper part of the toilet bowl by friction forces, regardless of the point of impact on the inner wall of the upper part of the toilet bowl and is directed via the drain curve into the collecting channel of the urine trap and collected there.

[0017] A urine drain can be further developed and arranged at a lowest point of the collecting channel in order to drain away the collected urine.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment, the upper part of the toilet bowl can open into the drain channel or merge into it.

[0019] In a further development, the upper and lower parts of the toilet bowl are designed as two separately manufactured shells. These are in particular joined together to form the toilet bowl. In a further development, the upper and lower parts of the toilet bowl are connected to one another in the area of ​​the collecting channel, in particular are connected to one another in a materially integral manner. If the upper and lower parts of the toilet bowl comprise a metal or a metal alloy, as in a further development of the invention, or are made in particular from metal or a metal alloy, in particular from stainless steel, or consist predominantly from a metal or a metal alloy, they can, for example, be welded to one another, for example in the area of ​​the collecting channel they can be connected with a circumferential weld seam.

[0020] In a simple way, the upper and lower parts of the toilet bowl are manufactured as metal spun or deep drawn parts.

[0021] This allows the toilet bowl to be relatively easily integrated into a complete vacuum toilet system, which consists of additional components arranged around the toilet bowl. Alternatively, the toilet bowl can also be made of other materials, such as sanitary ceramics.

[0022] According to a further development of the invention, the separation toilet is designed as a vacuum toilet and is then particularly equipped accordingly.

[0023] According to a further development, the lower part of the toilet bowl, in particular the upper section of the lower part of the toilet bowl, has a circumferential fold in the region of the circumferential opening.

[0024] The wall of the lower section is folded over, forming a wall facing inward, into the toilet bowl—the inner wall—and, on the other side of the fold, an outward-facing wall, which, for example, opens into the collecting channel or merges into it. The wall is thus continuous and can run continuously.

[0025] According to the invention, the principle of urine separation works with a circumferential urine trap when the user of the composting toilet is sitting or standing. This effectively and optimally prevents contamination of the urine with feces. Separation occurs passively, i.e. without additional, particularly moving, parts and without additional energy. The basic principle can be adapted for various designs. This also applies to a vacuum toilet, as the toilet bowl can be easily integrated into existing vacuum toilet systems with water flushing. This also results in lower water consumption compared to normal NoMix flush toilets. Instead of one relatively large wastewater tank, two smaller urine and feces tanks are now required, or a combined urine and feces tank with two separate chambers, which can be designed to take up less space than a conventional wastewater tank.The space limitations of the toilet bowl compared to conventional vacuum toilets with water flushing are negligible. This also results in weight savings, especially when used in vehicles. The separately collected urine can be used as a valuable resource, e.g., in fertilizer production.

[0026] According to a further development of the invention, the separation toilet comprises a device for processing urine, which is arranged between the urine drain and a urine tank.

[0027] In a further development, the device for processing urine comprises at least one electrolysis cell for the electrochemical precipitation of struvite, in particular comprising at least one anode comprising magnesium.

[0028] Urine treatment, which in particular enables struvite precipitation using electrochemical means, prevents the formation of urine scale in the system's piping. No additional chemicals are required for struvite precipitation because treatment by electrolysis functions independently of the urine's pH value. At the same time, germs in the urine are killed and recontamination is slowed down. The device for treating urine between the urine drain and the urine tank, in particular between the at least one shut-off device and the urine tank, acts as an integrated intermediate urine tank, which makes an additional intermediate tank unnecessary and results in further space advantages. Settled struvite can be drawn off separately and processed further. Separated urine in the urine tank can be used as a valuable material, particularly for fertilizer production.The extracted struvite is odorless, free of pharmaceutical residues and heavy metals, and can therefore also be used as fertilizer. This represents a raw material recovery process through struvite precipitation, in keeping with the circular economy. Separately drained and collected feces can also be treated in a bioreactor, which further extends disposal intervals (e.g., the bioreactor from Protec (http: / / www.akwauv-protec.com). Alternatively, they can be further processed into compost or thermally recycled.

[0029] A vehicle according to the invention, in particular an aircraft, water or land vehicle, for example a rail vehicle, in particular for public passenger transport, comprises at least one separation toilet according to the invention.

[0030] The invention is susceptible of numerous embodiments. It is explained in more detail with reference to the following figures, each of which illustrates an exemplary embodiment. Identical elements in the figures are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0031] Fig. 1 shows schematically a separation toilet according to the invention in partial section,

[0032] Fig. 2 shows a detailed section of the composting toilet from Fig. 1,

[0033] Fig. 3 shows an example of a design of a urine treatment device.

[0034] Fig. 1 shows a separation toilet according to the invention in partial section. Fig. 2 shows a section of this separation toilet in more detail, which is why both figures are described together below.

[0035] The separation toilet comprises a toilet bowl 1 with separate drains for faeces 4 and urine 15 , wherein the drain for faeces 4 is arranged at the lowest point of the toilet bowl 1 .

[0036] The toilet bowl 1 comprises an upper part 2 and a lower part 3. Both the upper and lower parts 2 and 3 are manufactured here as two shells made of a metal or a metal alloy, for example, manufactured separately as metal-pressed or deep-drawn parts and welded together. The upper part 2 has the shape of a positively curved shell that is open on both sides.

[0037] In a lower section 12 of the upper part 2, the latter has a downwardly open, circumferential widening 6. As a result, a diameter of the upper part 2 in the lower section 12 is larger than the diameter of an upper section 13 of the lower part 3. The lower part 3 is completely enclosed in the region of its upper section 13 by the upper part 2 in the region of its lower section 12.

[0038] The upper part 2 and lower part 3 of the toilet bowl 1 together form the inner wall 11 of the toilet bowl 1 and thus define a space for collecting excretions.

[0039] To drain urine impinging on the upper part 2, an opening 5 is arranged circumferentially between the upper part 2 and the lower part 3. The circumferential opening 5 thus extends over 360° of the entire diameter of the toilet bowl 1, in particular in a lower third of the toilet bowl 1.

[0040] Irrespective of the point of impact on the inner wall 11 of the upper part 2 of the toilet bowl 1, urine is guided by frictional forces in a laminar manner along the inner wall 11 of the upper part 2 of the toilet bowl 1 and into the circumferential opening 5. For this purpose, the circumferential widening 6 of the upper part 2 has a continuously running curve 7 which is shaped such that urine hitting and running down the upper part 2 of the toilet bowl 1 is drained off by gravity and using surface tension via the curve 7 of the circumferential widening 6 into the circumferential opening 5. The urine is therefore guided along the inner wall 11 of the upper part 2 of the toilet bowl into the space between the upper part 2 and the lower part 3, in which space the upper part 2 encloses the lower part 3.There it is collected by means of a likewise circumferential collecting channel 9 and collected at the lowest point of the collecting channel 9 through an outlet 15 arranged there for collected urine.

[0041] The drainage channel 9 is formed here by a collar or rim formed on or from the lower part 3. Firstly, the lower part 3 has a fold 10 in the upper section 13. Adjacent to this is the projection which forms the collecting channel 9, so that the lower part 2 has a continuous wall from the interior of the toilet bowl 1 over the fold 10 to the collecting channel 9. Conversely, the upper part 2 also has a continuous wall from the interior of the toilet bowl 1 over the curve 7 of the circumferential widening 6 to behind the enclosed upper section 13 of the lower part 3, which wall opens into the circumferential collecting channel 9. A weld seam 14, along which the upper part 2 is materially connected to the lower part 3, is located in this embodiment example in the area of ​​the collecting channel 9.In the area of ​​the collecting channel 9 there is thus an overlap between the upper and lower parts 2 and 3 of the toilet bowl 1.

[0042] In the area of ​​the circumferential opening 5, the inner wall 11 of the toilet bowl 1 has a relatively small recess 8. Due to this offset between the upper and lower bowls, in the area of ​​the circumferential opening 5, the latter is barely visible from above and is also well protected against possible contamination by feces.

[0043] In order to fill and seal the fecal and urine drains 4 and 15 with a minimal amount of water in an odor-tight manner, a flushing nozzle 16 can be arranged within the toilet bowl 1, which is suitably designed and aligned accordingly. A urine treatment device can be connected to the urine outlet 15.

[0044] Fig. 3 now shows an embodiment of a processing device 17 for urine in cross-section and longitudinal section.

[0045] The treatment device 17 has a housing 18 with a urine inlet 19 and an electrical connection 20. The urine inlet 19 of the treatment device 17 is fluidly connected to the urine outlet 15 of the toilet bowl 1 and thus also to the urine drain 5, and receives the urine collected in the toilet bowl 1 and drained from it. The treatment device 17 thus also acts as a type of intermediate tank. In addition, the housing 18 has an outlet 21 which is connected to a downstream urine tank via a further shut-off valve 27 if necessary. The outlet 21 is arranged at a lowest point of the housing 18. Struvite precipitates 26 collect above this and can be drained off through the outlet 21.

[0046] Opposite the outlet 21 is a screw cap 22 with a further electrical connection 23 and with a pressure line 24 for supplying compressed air into the housing 18, for example to empty the housing or to put the housing 18 under negative pressure, for example to suck in urine. Connected to the screw cap 22 is a sacrificial anode 25 which projects into the reactor chamber of the housing 18. The sacrificial anode 25, in particular a magnesium rod, is electrically connected to the electrical connection 23 of the screw cap 22. This in turn is connected to the positive pole of a direct current source. The magnesium rod is a wearing part and must be replaced at periodic intervals. The housing 18 of the processing device 17 itself is connected to the negative pole of the direct current source and serves as the cathode.Urine is drawn into the treatment device 17 under partial vacuum, and struvite precipitation from the urine is induced electrochemically. At the same time, any germs present are largely killed by the electrolysis. Struvite collects at the bottom of the treatment device 17 and, in the next process step, is transported to the urine tank by means of overpressure. In the urine tank, the struvite precipitates are unproblematic because they do not dry out there and instead collect at the bottom of the tank.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A separation toilet with a toilet bowl (1) and separate drains for faeces and urine, the drain for faeces (4) being arranged at the lowest point of the toilet bowl (1), characterized in that the toilet bowl (1) has an upper and a lower part (2, 3), the lower part (3) being at least partially enclosed by the upper part (2) and an opening (5) for draining the urine being arranged all the way around between the upper and lower parts (2, 3).

2. A separation toilet according to claim 1, characterized in that the circumferential opening (5) between the upper and lower parts (2, 3) is arranged in the lower third of the toilet bowl (1).

3. A separation toilet according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the upper part (2) of the toilet bowl (1) has a circumferential widening (6) in the region of the circumferential opening (5), wherein the upper part (2) encloses the lower part (3) in the region of the circumferential widening (6).

4. A separation toilet according to claim 3, characterized in that the circumferential widening (6) of the upper part (2) of the toilet bowl (1) is formed with a continuously running curve (7) which is designed in such a way that urine hitting and running down the upper part (2) of the toilet bowl (1) is diverted into the circumferential opening (5) by gravity, utilizing the surface tension.

5. A separation toilet according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the toilet bowl (1) has a recess (8) in its inner wall from the upper part (2) to the lower part (3) in the region of the circumferential opening (5).

6. A separation toilet according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it has a circumferential collecting channel (9) for urine, which is arranged below the circumferential opening (5).

7. A separation toilet according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the upper and lower parts (2, 3) of the toilet bowl (1) are designed as two separately manufactured bowls.

8. A separation toilet according to claim 6 and 7, characterized in that the upper and lower parts (2) of the toilet bowl (1) are connected to one another in the region of the collecting channel (9).

9. A separation toilet according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the lower part (3) of the toilet bowl (1) has a circumferential fold (10) in the region of the circumferential opening (5).

10. A separation toilet according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least the upper and lower parts (2, 3) of the toilet bowl (1) comprise a metal or a metal alloy.

11. A separation toilet according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the separation toilet is designed as a vacuum toilet.

12. A separation toilet according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises a device (17) for processing urine, which is arranged between the circumferential opening (5) for draining the urine and a urine tank.

13. A separation toilet according to claim 12, characterized in that the device (17) for processing urine is at least at least one electrolysis cell for the electrochemical precipitation of struvite.

14. Vehicle with at least one separation toilet according to one of the preceding claims.

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