A tilting mechanism and a method of accessing a back end of a toilet unit

Abstract

The invention is related to tilting mechanism for a toilet unit and a method of accessing the toilet unit for maintenance and / or servicing. The incineration toilet comprising a base support arranged with a support frame, a toilet unit comprising a front end and a back end and secured to the support frame. The toilet unit comprises a toilet bowl and an incineration chamber, wherein the toilet bowl is arranged above the incineration chamber so that waste can fall into the incineration chamber from the toilet bowl. The incineration toilet further comprises a tilting mechanism adapted for tilting the toilet unit from a user position in which the toilet unit is in an upright position to a tilted position in which the toilet unit is tilted to allow access to the back end of the toilet unit.

Description

[0001] A tilting mechanism and a method of accessing a back end of a toilet unit

[0002] The present invention is directed to an incineration toilet comprising a toilet unit comprising a toilet bowl and an incineration chamber, wherein the incineration toilet further comprises a tilting mechanism adapted for tilting the toilet unit for accessing the back end for maintenance and service. The invention is also directed to a method for accessing the back end of a toilet unit.

[0003] BACKGROUND

[0004] Incinerating toilets are self-contained waterless systems that do not require being hooked up to a sewer system or inground septic system. They rely on electric power, gasoline, or natural or propane gas to incinerate human waste to sterile clean ash.

[0005] The incineration toilet burns biological waste at high temperatures, leaving only an insignificant quantity of ash. The waste is burned in an enclosed incineration chamber, and the incineration gases are expelled through a separate ventilation pipe connected to the back end of the toilet.

[0006] The incineration toilet may comprise a pouch bowl for holding a waste pouch, and an incineration chamber with a hatch arranged below the pouch bowl for receiving the waste pouch into the incineration chamber. The hatch being openable manually by a foot pedal or by an electric motor. The pouch bowl may further comprise an openable flap synchronized with the openable hatch such that when the hatch is opened, the flap is opened simultaneously so that the waste pouch can fall into the incineration chamber. The flap may comprise a hook device arranged to cooperate with a mating head arranged on the incineration chamber hatch, such that when the hatch opens, the mating head pulls the hook such that the flap opens in the same operation. Inside the incineration chamber, the waste pouch containing biological waste are burned into ashes.

[0007] The incineration chamber may comprise an ash tray situated at the lower end of the incineration chamber, such that is constitute the bottom part of the incineration chamber. The waste is collected in the ash tray and incinerated into ashes by a burner located in the incineration chamber or extending into the incineration chamber, above the ash tray. The ash tray is further removeable / separatable from the incineration chamber so that the burnt ashes can be emptied.

[0008] The burner may be a gas burner or a diesel burner extending into the incineration chamber, above the ash tray, so that flames or heat can be directed downwards onto the waste located in the ash tray. Publication EP3378367 Al discloses an incineration toilet with a gas burner that burns waste into ashes at high temperatures. The gas burner is located at the back of the incineration chamber adjacent to the exhaust outlet. At the back end of the incineration toilet, inlet gas can be infused to the gas burner, and exhaust gas to be extracted from the incineration chamber from a separate outlet. Very often, the incineration toilet is mounted with its back towards a back wall of a building or vehicle, so that auxiliary equipment such as gas supply, burner, fans, catalyst, exhaust outlet, etc. are only accessible from the back of the toilet. The location of the burner and auxiliary equipment at the back end of the toilet makes it difficult to access when maintenance or service is needed. Prior art incineration toilet arrangements, often requires that the entire toilet back wall must be dismounted, or the entire toilet unit to be opened or removed in case the burner or the exhaust outlet needs maintenance or servicing.

[0009] Thus, there is a need for a service system that allows easy access to the components located at the back end of the incineration chamber.

[0010] The objective of the present invention is therefore to provide a service arrangement that allows easy access to parts located at the back or facing the back end of the incineration toilet.

[0011] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention is directed to an incineration toilet comprising a base support arranged with support frames, a toilet unit with a front end and a back end, and secured to the support frames, wherein the toilet unit comprises a toilet bowl and an incineration chamber. The toilet bowl is arranged above the incineration chamber so that waste can fall into the incineration chamber from the toilet bowl. The incineration toilet further comprises a tilting mechanism adapted for tilting the toilet unit from a user position in which the toilet unit is in an upright position to a tilted position in which the toilet unit is tilted to allow access to the back end of the toilet unit for maintenance and servicing.

[0013] The term “front end” and “back end” is directed to the front and back of the toilet. The front end being the end in front of the user while seated onto the toilet, and the back end being the end at the back of the user, often facing a back wall. The front end may be the end facing the toilet room open area, while the back end may be the end facing the back wall of the toilet room. Accordingly, the terms are used for the toilet unit “front end” and “back end”, and for other parts to show their position. The incineration toilet may comprise a burner, exhaust outlet, fan and catalyst located at the back end of the toilet. In many cases, the above-mentioned components are only accessible from the front end of the toilet since the back end may be facing a back wall. Thus, in case service is needed, the entire toilet unit needs to be dismounted and taken out.

[0014] The present invention solves the problem by tilting the toilet unit so that access to the back end of the toilet unit is provided through the front end. Hence, in the tilted position, internal part of the toilet located at the back end of the toilet may also be accessed for maintenance and servicing.

[0015] It may be preferable that the toilet unit front end is tilted downward so that the back end is lifted to provide easy access to the parts located at the back of the toilet unit.

[0016] The burner may be arranged through a burner opening located at the back end of the incineration chamber. In case service is needed to the burner, the toilet unit may be tilted to provide access to the burner.

[0017] The toilet unit comprises the toilet bowl and the incineration chamber, the incineration chamber located below the toilet bowl so that waste can fall from the toilet bowl into the incineration chamber. The toilet bowl may be a pouch bowl for collecting waste in a paper pouch before it can be deposited into the incineration chamber. The pouch bowl may comprise an openable flap that are synchronised with an incineration chamber hatch for depositing of the paper pouch.

[0018] The incineration chamber may further comprise a removeable ash tray arranged as the lower section of the incineration chamber, so that the incinerated waste (ashes) can be collected inside the ash tray, and wherein the ash tray can be disconnected and removed from the incineration chamber for emptying of the ashes.

[0019] To keep the toilet unit in the upright position, the toilet unit is secured to support frames. The support frames may be vertical frames that are connected to the base support for holding and securing internal toilet parts such as the toilet unit. The parts may be secured the support frames so that they are restricted from movement.

[0020] In the user position, the toilet unit may be supported from below by the base support and to its sides, in the vertical direction, by the support frames. In case of maintenance and service, the ash tray is removed, and the toilet unit is supported at its sides by the support frames only. The connection point of the toilet unit to the support frames is also the pivot point of the toilet unit. The pivot point is part of the tilting mechanism and may comprise a fastener attachment for allowing the toilet unit to rotate, tilt or pivot relative to the support frames and relative to the base support. The tilting mechanism may comprise a fastener connecting the toilet unit to the support frame, wherein the fastener provides a connection and a pivot point for tilting the toilet unit relative to the base. The fastener may carry the load of the entire toilet unit onto the support frames when the ash tray is removed from the lower end of the incineration chamber.

[0021] The fastener may be a fastening device such as a; bolt, nail, pin, rivets, swivel joints, threaded inserts, or any combinations thereof. The fastening device allows for tilting or revolving while securely holding the objects together.

[0022] The fastener may be a pin / screw for connecting the toilet unit to the support frame. The pin / screw provides a connection and pivot point for tilting the toilet unit. The pin / screw may be a threaded insert for connecting the toilet unit to the support frame with a threaded connection. The threaded insert may be installed in one object (toilet unit or support frame) and allow for the insertion of screw or bots into the other object, providing a secure yet tiltable connection.

[0023] The incineration chamber may be secured to the toilet bowl, and wherein the tilting mechanism is connected to the toilet bowl for tilting both the incineration chamber and the toilet bowl simultaneously.

[0024] The tilting mechanism is connected to the toilet bowl at both sides, providing a tilting axis perpendicular to a vertical centre plane from the front end to the back end of the toilet unit.

[0025] In embodiment, the tilting mechanism may be a bracket comprising a fastener such as a screw / pin for connecting the bracket at the connection and pivot point, to the support frame at one end, and opposite end connected to the toilet bowl. The bracket may be connected to the toilet bowl and pivots at the connection point to the support frame. Thus, the toilet unit, comprising the toilet bowl and the incineration chamber may be tilted or rotated at the connection point of the screw / pin. A nut or a lock may be provided to secure the screw / pin at the connection and pivot point.

[0026] The bracket may comprise an end position locking arrangement adapted for locking the toilet unit in an end position locked state or in an end position tilted state. The end position locking arrangement may comprise a first recess defining the end position of the locked state and a second recess defining the end position of the tilted state. Thus, the bracket and the toilet unit may move between the end position of the locked state and the end position of the tilted state. In the end position locked state, the toilet unit is in its upright position, and in the end position tilted state the toilet unit is tilted to provide access to the back end. The end position locking arrangement comprises a screw and a nut for securing the bracket in the end position locked state in which the screw is received into the first recess and in the end position tilted state in which the screw is received into the second recess. The first and second recess may be located on the bracket, and wherein the screw / pin is located on the support frame.

[0027] The incineration chamber may comprise a removeable ash tray arranged at a lower section of the incineration chamber, and wherein the ash tray is removed prior to tilting the toilet unit. The ash tray may be defined as the lower section of the incineration chamber. In operation, the waste when entering the incineration chamber will fall to the bottom om said chamber where it can be incinerated by burner located above, wherein the bottom of the incineration chamber is also the ash tray which can be detached from the incineration chamber for emptying of the waste ashes. The ash tray may by supported by the toilet base, so that it also supports the toilet unit in the upright position of the toilet unit. Only, when the ash tray is removed, the toilet unit may be tilted.

[0028] The incineration chamber may therefore comprise an upper section and a lower section constituting a removeable ash tray, removably arranged into an ash tray compartment, wherein the ash tray is removed prior to tilting the toilet unit and wherein the upper section of the incineration chamber is tiltable into the ash tray compartment.

[0029] The invention is also related to a method of accessing a burner of an incineration toilet. The method comprises the step of a) lifting or removing a front casing of the incineration toilet; b) removing an ash tray connected to the incineration chamber; c) unlocking an end position locking arrangement; d) tilting the toilet unit from the end position state to the tilted position state; e) locking the toilet unit in the end position tilted state; and f) accessing the back end of the toilet unit.

[0030] Thus, the method provides access to the back end of the toilet unt to provide maintenance, repair, and replacement of parts. The method allows access to the back end of the toilet unit without having to take out the entire toilet or remove the back wall of the toilet (in case the toilet is arranged with its back towards a back wall).

[0031] FIGURES

[0032] The invention will now be described with reference to the attached figures, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a front and side view of an incineration toilet with a toilet casing covering the internal parts of the toilet.

[0033] Fig. 2 shows a cross sectional view through the centre line B-B of the incineration toilet in figure 1.

[0034] Fig. 3 shows a side view of the internal of the incineration toilet in the user position, in which the toilet unit is in an upright position.

[0035] Fig. 4 shows a side view of the internal of the incineration toilet in the tilted position, in which the toilet unit is tilted to provide access to the toilet parts located at the back end of the toilet unit.

[0036] Fig. 5 shows another side view of the incineration toilet in the tilted position in which the toilet unit is tilted relative to the toilet and to the toilet support frame.

[0037] Fig. 6 shows yet another side view of the incineration toilet in the tilted position in which access to the back of the toilet unit is provided.

[0038] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0039] In the following, embodiments of the invention will be discussed in detail with reference to the appended figures. It should be understood, however, that the figures are not intended to limit the invention to the subject-matter depicted in the figures.

[0040] Figure 1 shows the incineration toilet 1 according to the present invention. The internal of the toilet 1 comprises parts and components for receiving and combusting human waste. To protect the user, protect the internal parts, and for aesthetic look, a toilet casing 20 is provided, covering the internal parts of the toilet. The toilet casing 20 is a cover that may be removeable (not shown) or opened (not shown) to allow access to the internal parts of the toilet 1 for maintenance, repair and service.

[0041] The incineration toilet 1 may comprise an exhaust outlet located at the back 30 of the toilet 1. Other parts such as fan, catalyst, burner, fuel supply, etc, may be mounted or connected to the back 30 of the toilet 1. The incineration toilet is preferably mounted with its back 30 towards an outer wall of a house, cabin, or trailer, in order to direct the exhaust smoke to the outside and having connections for fuel inlet. Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view through a centre line B-B in figure 1. The incineration toilet 1 comprises a toilet unit 12 for receiving and incinerating the toilet waste (not shown). The toilet unit 12 comprises a toilet bowl 13 for receiving waste and an incineration chamber 14 for incinerating the waste into ashes at high temperatures by a burner 16. The toilet bowl 13 is arranged above the incineration chamber 14 so that waste can fall into the incineration chamber 14 from the toilet bowl 13. The incineration chamber 14 comprises an ash tray 15 constituting the lower part of the incineration chamber 14. The ash tray 15 is disconnect able and removeable from the incineration chamber 14, in that it can be disconnected from the incineration chamber for emptying of the ashes.

[0042] The burner 16 may be a diesel burner or a gas burner and may be located at the back of the toilet 1 so that it can easily have supply of fuel such as diesel or propane gas from the back 30 of the toilet 1. The burner 16 extends into the incineration chamber 14 through a burner opening 17 located at an upper section 27 of the incineration chamber 14 and pointed downwards such that heat can be directed to the bottom part of the incineration chamber 14, which is also the ash tray 15.

[0043] The burner 16 is located at the back end 32 of the toilet unit 12. Figure 2 shows that the front end 31 of the toilet unit 12 is referred to the space / area in front of the toilet unit 12, and the wherein the back end 32 of the toilet unit 12 is referred to the space / area located at the back of the toilet unit 12.

[0044] Since the burner 16 and the burner opening 17 are located at the back end 32 of the toilet unit 12, access to these parts is difficult through the front of the incineration toilet 1. The present invention solves the problem by tilting the toilet unit 12 such that the burner 16 and back end of the toilet unit 12 can be accessed from the front end of the toilet 1.

[0045] As shown in figure 3, the incineration toilet 1 comprises a base support 10 arranged with support frames 11 connected to the base support 10. The support frames 11 and the base support 10 bare supports that carries the internal components of the incineration toilet 1. Thus, the frame support 11 are secured to the base support 10, and wherein internal parts are secured to the frame support 11 and / or the base support 10.

[0046] The toilet 1 may comprise two support frames 11 arranged on opposite sides of the toilet unit 12 for supporting the toilet unit 12 and internal parts and components of the incineration toilet 1.

[0047] The toilet unit 12 may be secured to the support frames 11 on either side. The toilet bowl may be secured to the incineration chamber 14, and wherein the toilet bowl 13 is secured to the support frames 11 at a connection and pivot point 26. The incineration toilet 1 further comprises a tilting mechanism 21 adapted for tilting the toilet unit 12 from a user position in which the toilet unit 12 is in an upright position to a tilted position in which the toilet unit 12 is tilted to allow access to the back end 32 of the toilet unit 12. The tilting mechanism 21 may comprise a pin / screw 25 connecting the toilet unit 12 to the support frames 11, wherein the pin / screw 25 provides a connection and pivot point 26 for rotating, tilting or pivoting, the toilet unit 12 relative to the support frames 11.

[0048] The incineration chamber 14 may be secured to the toilet bowl 13, and wherein the tilting mechanism 21 is connected to the toilet bowl 13 for tilting both the incineration chamber 14 and the toilet bowl 13 simultaneously.

[0049] The tilting mechanism 21 may be connected to the toilet bowl 13 at opposite sides, providing a tilting axis perpendicular to a vertical centre plane through the front and back end 31,32 of the toilet unit 12.

[0050] In figure 2, the incineration chamber 14 comprise an upper section 27 and a lower section constituting an ash tray 15. The ash tray 15 being removably arranged into an ash tray compartment 29 below the upper section 27. In figure 4-6, the ash tray is removed and the toilet unit 12, constituting the toilet bowl 13 and the upper section 27 of the incineration chamber 14, is tilted into the ash tray compartment 29.

[0051] Figures 3-6 shows that the tilting mechanism 21 comprises a bracket 22 for tilting the toilet unit 12. The bracket 22 comprising a fastener 28 connecting the toilet unit 12 to the support frames 11, wherein the fastener 28 provides a connection and a pivot point 26 for tilting the toilet unit 12 relative to the base support 10 and the support frames 11. The bracket is connected to the toilet bowl 13 and pivots at the connection and pivot point 26.

[0052] The fastener 28 may be a pin / screw 25 device. Figure 3 shows the bracket 22 in the user position in which the toilet unit 12 is in the upright position, not tilted position. In figures 4-6, the ash tray 15 is removed and the toilet unit 12 is supported only via the pin / screw 25 to the support frames 11. The toilet unit 12 is in the service position in which the toilet unit 12 is tilted to provide access to the back end 32 of the toilet unit 12.

[0053] The bracket 22 may be a device secured to the toilet unit 12 or the bracket 22 may be integrated into the structure of the toilet unit 12.

[0054] As shown in figures 3-6, the bracket 22 comprises an end position locking arrangement adapted for locking the toilet unit 12 in an end position locked state SI or an end position tilted state S2. This means that the bracket 22 comprises a first and a second locking position. The first locking position being the user position in which the toilet unit 12 is in an upright position, and the second locking position being the tilted position in which the toilet unit 12 is tilted. Thus, the toilet unit 12 is moveable between the end positions of the bracket 22, defined by the first locking position and the second locking position.

[0055] The bracket 22 may comprise a first recess 23 defining the end position of the locked state SI and a second recess 24 defining the end position of the tilted state S2. The end position locking arrangement may comprise a screw and a nut for securing the bracket

[0056] 22 in the end position locked state SI in which the screw is received into the first recess

[0057] 23 and in the end position tilted state S2 in which the screw is received into the second recess 24. The bracket 22 may be locked in the end positions by screwing and tightening the nut onto the screw such that the screw is locked into the first or second recess 23,24.

[0058] The end position screw / pin may be located on the support frame 11, so that when the toilet unit 12 rotates, tilts or pivots from the user position to the tilted position, the bracket 22 moves from the first recess 23 into the second recess 24.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An incineration toilet (1) comprising:- a base support (10) arranged with a support frame (11);- a toilet unit (12) having a front end (31) and a back end (32), and secured to the support frame (11), the toilet unit (12) comprises a toilet bowl (13) and an incineration chamber (14), wherein the toilet bowl (13) is arranged above the incineration chamber (14) so that waste can fall into the incineration chamber (14) from the toilet bowl (13), characterized in that the incineration toilet (1) further comprises a tilting mechanism (21) adapted for tilting the toilet unit from a user position in which the toilet unit (12) is in an upright position to a tilted position in which the toilet unit (12) is tilted to allow access to the back end (32) of the toilet unit (12).

2. The incineration toilet (1) according to claim 1, wherein the incineration chamber (14) is secured to the toilet bowl (13), and wherein the tilting mechanism (21) is connected to the toilet bowl (13).

3. The incineration toilet (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tilting mechanism (21) comprises a fastener (28) connecting the toilet unit (12) to the support frame (11), wherein the fastener (28) provides a connection and pivot point (26) for tilting the toilet unit (12) relative to the support frame (11).

4. The incineration toilet (1) according to claim 3, wherein the tilting mechanism (21) is connected to the toilet bowl (13) at opposite sides of the toilet bowl (13), providing a tilting axis perpendicular to a vertical centre plane through the front and back end (31,32) of the toilet unit (12).

5. The incineration toilet (1) according to claim 4, wherein the tilting mechanism (21) comprises a bracket (22) comprising the fastener (28) connecting the bracket (22) at the connection and pivot point (26) to the support frame (11) at one end, and opposite end connected to the toilet bowl (13).

6. The incineration toilet (1) according to claim 5, wherein the bracket (22) is connected to the toilet bowl (13) and pivots at the connection and pivot point (26) to the support frame (11).

7. The incineration toilet (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the bracket (22) comprises an end position locking arrangement adapted for locking the toilet unit (12) in an end position locked state (SI) or in an end position tilted state (S2).

8. The incineration toilet (1) according to claim 7, wherein the end position locking arrangement comprises a first recess (23) defining the end position of the locked state (SI) and a second recess (24) defining the end position of the tilted state (S2).

9. The incineration toilet (1) according to claim 8, wherein the end position locking arrangement comprises a screw and a nut for securing the bracket (22) in the end position locked state (SI) in which the screw is received into the first recess (23), and in the end position tilted state (S2) in which the screw is received into the second recess (24).

10. The incineration toilet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the incineration chamber (14) comprises an upper section (27) and a lower section constituting a removeable ash tray (15) removably arranged into an ash tray compartment (29), wherein the ash tray (15) is removed prior to tilting the toilet unit (12) and wherein the upper section (27) of the incineration chamber (14) is tiltable into the ash tray compartment (29).

11. A method of accessing a back end (32) of a toilet unit (12) of an incineration toilet (1) according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein the method comprises the step of: a) lifting or removing a toilet casing (20) of the incineration toilet (1); b) separating and removing an ash tray (15) from the incineration chamber (14); c) unlocking an end position locking arrangement; d) tilting the toilet unit (12) from the end position locked state (SI) to the end position tilted state S2); e) locking the toilet unit (12) in the end position tilted state (S2) in which the toilet unit (12) is in the tilted position; f) accessing the back end of the toilet unit (12).

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