Toilet exhaust system

Abstract

A toilet exhaust system for use with a toilet bowl (1), the exhaust system comprising: a motion sensor (10) configured to detect motion and to generate an output signal on detection of motion; a ventilator (20) in communication with the motion sensor and arranged to be activated in response to receiving the output signal from the motion sensor; an exhaust pipe (30) having a first end (32) which, in use, opens into the toilet bowl (1) and a second end (34) via which air is exhauster, and wherein the ventilator (20) is positioned in the exhaust pipe between the first and the second end so as to cause air to flow out of the first end (32) into the toilet bowl, in use, and to draw air from the toilet bowl to the second end (34).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an odour removal exhaust system for a toilet.BACKGROUND

[0002] Odours emanating from lavatories can be unpleasant for users and others in the vicinity. This is especially the case for lavatories or toilets used by several different people e.g. public toilets or toilets on trains or aircraft or the like. In extreme cases, pungent smells from toilets e.g. blocked toilets can be so bad that an aircraft may be forced to make an unscheduled landing and be evacuated. In addition, flush toilets produce aerosols containing harmful pathogens which can be harmful to health.

[0003] In some cases, deodorants or air fresheners are used to disguise the smell. These may be manually or automatically dispersed. Such solutions, however, only mask the odour and do not remove the odour or its source. Further, the deodorants or air fresheners may, themselves, have an odour that is unpleasant to some and can even cause allergic reactions.

[0004] In other solutions, an exhaust fan may be installed in the toilet cubicle, e.g. in the ceiling or a wall but this requires structural modifications to the cubicle itself.

[0005] There is a need for an improved solution to dealing with toilet odours.SUMMARY

[0006] Accordingly, there is provided a toilet exhaust system for use with a toilet bowl, the exhaust system comprising: a motion sensor configured to detect motion and to generate an output signal on detection of motion; a ventilator in communication with the motion sensor and arranged to be activated in response to receiving the output signal from the motion sensor; an exhaust pipe having a first end which, in use, opens into the toilet bowl and a second end via which air is exhauster, and wherein the ventilator is positioned in the exhaust pipe between the first and the second end so as to cause air to flow out of the first end into the toilet bowl, in use, and to draw air from the toilet bowl to the second end.

[0007] The exhaust system may further comprise an additional sensor, e.g. a capacitive sensor, configured to detect waste material in the toilet bowl and to generate a waste detection signal on detection of waste material, the ventilator being activated in response to the waste detection signal.

[0008] The sensor signals may be communicated to the ventilator via a control unit.BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0009] Examples of the exhaust system of this disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawing. It should be noted that these are examples only, and that variations are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0010] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a toilet with an exhaust system according to this disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] Toilets (also known as lavatories, but the term toilet will be used hereinafter) are typically provided with some form of flush assembly to remove waste content from the toilet bowl after use. The flush assembly typically opens a drain valve via which waste from the toilet bowl is evacuated to a waste collection tank or other waste disposal. Flushing the toilet after use to remove the waste does reduce odour generation or lingering odours to some extent. In many cases, though, the odour following use of the toilet can remain in the vicinity of the toilet for some time. Furthermore, if the toilet becomes blocked, so that all waste is not evacuated, the problem of odours can be exacerbated.

[0012] Some toilets are provided with, or have in the vicinity, an air freshening or deodorising system that can disperse a fragrance or deodorising gas or spray around the toilet area to disguise any odours.

[0013] As mentioned above, though, this is not an ideal solution to managing toilet odours.

[0014] In aircraft, for example, toilet odours may not only render the toilet cubicles unpleasant, but may also spread into the aircraft cabin. This is, at the least, unpleasant for passengers and crew. There have even been situations where aircraft have had to make unplanned landings because of excessive toilet odours.

[0015] The solution to managing toilet odours according to this disclosure is to provide the toilet with an exhaust system that, when activated, circulates air around the toilet bowl area to prevent the air from becoming stagnant and to disperse and dilute unpleasant odours from the toilet.

[0016] An example will be described with reference to Fig. 1.

[0017] The exhaust system is activated in response to output from a motion sensor 10 located on or near the toilet bowl 1. In response to detecting motion by the motion sensor 10, which may be e.g. when a person enters the toilet cubicle or approaches or sits on the toilet, a fan or ventilator 20 of the exhaust system is activated. The ventilator causes air (A) to circulate in and around the toilet bowl 1 and then draws the circulated air (a) from the toilet bowl via an exhaust pipe 30 connected to the toilet bowl.

[0018] The exhaust pipe 30 opens, at one end 32, into the toilet bowl and, at an opposite end 34 to e.g. the environment or an exhaust stack 50 or other exit for the exhausted / stale air, and the ventilator 20 is located in the exhaust line between the two ends 32, 34.

[0019] In an example, a control module 40 is provided that is communicatively connected to the motion sensor 10 to receive an output signal indicative of detected motion and is also communicatively connected to the ventilator 20 to activate the ventilator in response to the detected motion signal. Any known method of communication, including by wireless and wired connection is possible.

[0020] In the example shown, the motion sensor 10 is located on top of the toilet bowl 1 near the back. The motion sensor 10 could, however, be mounted in another location in the vicinity of the toilet to detect a person near the toilet.

[0021] The motion sensor may be configured to only generate the output signal for a given period of time after detecting motion and when no output signal is generated, the ventilator is switched off or is arranged to switch off after a predetermined period of time after last detection of motion. In this way, the ventilator is only operated for a relatively short period of time after toilet use / the detection of movement.

[0022] In one example, as shown in Fig. 1, an additional sensor 60 may be located in or in proximity to the toilet bowl and arranged to detect waste material 70 in the toilet bowl. This waste material 70 may be a source of odour and may remain in the toilet bowl due to clogging or inadequate flushing. By incorporating this additional sensor 60 into the exhaust system, such material can also be detected. The additional sensor would generate a content detection signal that may also be communicated to a control module (which may or may not be the same as the control module 40 communicating with the motion sensor) and which also activates the ventilator 20.

[0023] In some examples, the additional sensor 60 is located on the outside of the toilet bowl e.g. near a drain region 2 of the toilet bowl via which waste is usually drained in normal toilet usage / flushing, via e.g. a drain pipe 3 when a drain or flush valve 4 is activated. The additional sensor, if located on the outside of the toilet bowl, will need to be able to sense matter through the wall of the toilet bowl. The sensor may, for example, be a capacitive sensor 60. Capacitive sensors may be designed with an adjustable sensing range.

[0024] In use, therefore, the exhaust system of this disclosure detects motion as a person approaches or uses the toilet and triggers operation of the ventilator, which causes air to circulate around the toilet bowl and then exit via the exhaust pipe. In some examples, waste content remaining in the toilet bowl will also trigger an additional sensor, that also activates the ventilator to circulate air around the toilet bowl and exit via the exhaust pipe. In this example, with the additional sensor, the ventilator will, therefore, continue to operate even if no motion is detected by the motion sensor and so if the toilet cubicle is empty, if there is still some waste content in the toilet bowl 1.

[0025] By circulating air around the toilet when in use and, in some examples, when waste remains in the toilet after use, odours are diluted and dispersed to the exhaust pipe, thus reducing odours around the toilet.

[0026] This solution can help maintain a more pleasant environment for users and others without the risk of transmitting pathogens or allergy-inducing products. The exhaust system is associated with the toilet rather than built into the toilet cubicle structure, and so can be removed / fitted when a toilet is removed / fitted, providing greater flexibility of location of the toilet.

Claims

1. A toilet exhaust system for use with a toilet bowl (1), the exhaust system comprising: a motion sensor (10) configured to detect motion and to generate an output signal on detection of motion; a ventilator (20) in communication with the motion sensor and arranged to be activated in response to receiving the output signal from the motion sensor; an exhaust pipe (30) having a first end (32) which, in use, opens into the toilet bowl (1) and a second end (34) via which air is exhauster, and wherein the ventilator (20) is positioned in the exhaust pipe between the first and the second end so as to cause air to flow out of the first end (32) into the toilet bowl, in use, and to draw air from the toilet bowl to the second end (34).

2. The exhaust system of claim 1, further comprising a control unit (40) in communication with the ventilator (20) and with the motion sensor (10).

3. The exhaust system of claim 1 or, further comprising an additional sensor (60) configured to detect waste material (70) in the toilet bowl and to generate a waste detection signal on detection of waste material, the ventilator being activated in response to the waste detection signal.

4. The exhaust system of claim 3, wherein the additional system is configured to be mounted, in use, to the exterior of the toilet bowl.

5. The exhaust system of claim 4, wherein the additional sensor is a capacitive sensor (60).

6. The exhaust system of any preceding claim, wherein the motion sensor is arranged to be mounted, in use, to the toilet bowl (1).

7. The exhaust system of claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the capacitive sensor (60) is arranged to be provided at a drain region of the toilet bowl.

8. The exhaust system of any preceding claim, wherein the ventilator is configured to turn off a predetermined time after generation of the output signal from the motion sensor.

9. The exhaust system of any preceding claim, wherein the second end of the exhaust pipe opens into an exhaust stack (50).

10. The exhaust system of any preceding claim, further including the toilet bowl (1).

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