Gray Water Flushing Tank for Mobile Toilets Without Clogging

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile toilet systems require large flushing water tanks due to infrequent connections to water supply, leading to significant weight and space issues, and the use of gray water for flushing poses challenges like clogging and bacterial growth, necessitating frequent maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A flushing water tank system that treats gray water with decalcifying and bactericidal agents, integrated with a filter device and dosing mechanism to prevent clogging and bacterial growth, allowing for efficient reuse of gray water as flushing water, reducing the need for fresh water storage and extending refill intervals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If a large flushing water tank is used to extend operating intervals, then the refill intervals are extended, but the transport weight and installation space increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefill intervalVSAvoidtransport weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system recovers and reuses gray water from the washbasin as flushing water for the toilet. The gray water tank collects water after hand washing, and this recovered water is then used to flush the toilet, eliminating the need for a large dedicated flushing water tank and reducing overall water transport requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The gray water tank serves multiple functions: it stores water after hand washing, provides flushing water for the toilet, and includes integrated filtration and treatment systems. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate large-capacity flushing water tanks, reducing both weight and space

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Quantity of substance

If gray water is used as flushing water, then water consumption is reduced, but clogging and bacterial growth occur in the flushing system

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater consumptionVSAvoidsystem reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary filtration and treatment of gray water before it is stored and used for flushing. A filter device removes particles and contaminants, and a dosing device adds treatment agents to prevent bacterial growth and clogging, ensuring the gray water is suitable for flushing operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The filter device and dosing device act as intermediaries between the gray water source and the flushing system. The filter removes physical contaminants, while the dosing device introduces chemical treatment agents, together preparing the gray water for reliable use as flushing water without causing clogging or bacterial problems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a filter device is added to treat gray water, then clogging is prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclogging preventionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter device and dosing device are integrated into a single compact unit within the gray water tank system. The filter element is positioned in the discharge path, and the dosing device is mounted on the tank, combining multiple functions (filtration, dosing, and gray water storage) into one integrated assembly, minimizing additional complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system significantly reduces water and weight requirements, extends refill intervals, and maintains consistent water quality by preventing clogging and bacterial growth, ensuring reliable operation of mobile toilet systems.

Implementation Method 1

treating it by adding a decalcifying and/or bactericidal agent so that the clogging or bacterial growth-promoting properties of the gray water can be neutralized or reduced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDecalcifying:

Implementation Method 2

treating it by adding a decalcifying and/or bactericidal agent so that the clogging or bacterial growth-promoting properties of the gray water can be neutralized or reduced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBactericidal:

Implementation Method 3

a filter device that includes a filter element that is inserted into a connecting line between the washbasin and the rinsing water container, and a collection container that is designed to collect filtered through the filter device to absorb solids

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2531658B1Flushing water container system for flushing water of a mobile toilet
Publication Date: 2016.04.20 EVAC GMBH
  • EP2531658B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2531658B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2531658B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Flushing water container system for flushing water of a mobile toilet (11), in particular a mobile vacuum toilet (11), comprising a flushing water container (43) having a flushing water container inflow (44), characterized in that the flushing water container (43) is designed to receive gray water from a basin (10), which is in particular a hand wash basin or a shower wash basin, and a metering device (41) is provided, which is fluidically connected to the flushing water container (43) and designed to treat the gray water by feeding a lime-dissolving and/or bactericidal treatment agent, wherein the flushing water container (43) is designed to release the treated gray water as flushing water to the mobile toilet (11).