Sewage-Attached Air Odor Removal System with Vacuum Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current plumbing systems, such as litter boxes and toilet bowls, lack effective means to eliminate odors generated from waste, relying on chemical disinfectants that only mask odors and are not eco-friendly, and exhaust fans that disperse odors further throughout the room.
Innovation Solution
An air odor removal system that uses a plumbing conduit system coupled to sewage or septic plumbing, featuring an air mover device to induce a vacuum that carries odors from a stand-alone structure to the sewage system through one-way valves, activated by a motion sensor to optimize odor removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If chemical disinfectants are used in the toilet tank or bowl, then odor masking is achieved, but the chemicals are not eco-friendly and only mask odors rather than eliminating them
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes odor-generating air from the toilet bowl environment using a vacuum system, physically separating the odor from the living space and directing it to a containment chamber where it can be neutralized without releasing harmful chemicals into the environment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary containment chamber between the toilet bowl and the environment, where odors are captured and held before being neutralized by odor-neutralizing material, serving as a mediator that prevents direct release of odors and chemicals into the environment
2Object-affected harmful factors
If exhaust fans are used to remove odors from the bathroom, then air movement is increased, but large quantities of air are moved dispersing offensive odors throughout the room
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the specific odor-containing air from the toilet bowl using a targeted vacuum system, rather than moving large quantities of general bathroom air, thereby efficiently removing odors without dispersing them throughout the room
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a localized vacuum field directly at the toilet bowl opening, targeting only the odor source area with the air mover inlet positioned to capture odors at their origin point, rather than general air movement throughout the entire bathroom
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a vacuum system is used to capture odors at the source, then odor containment is improved, but system complexity increases with additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The invention achieves multi-functionality by having the vacuum system serve multiple purposes: capturing odors during normal operation, containing odors in the chamber, and potentially integrating with existing toilet flushing mechanisms, thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated systems for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the odor containment chamber with the existing toilet structure, integrating the vacuum system into the current plumbing infrastructure rather than adding completely separate systems, thereby reducing overall complexity while maintaining effective odor containment
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
Effectively removes odors from litter boxes and toilet bowls by using a vacuum-induced airflow through the plumbing conduit system, preventing backflow and dispersal, and discharging them into the sewage storage, enhancing odor elimination without environmental harm.
Implementation Method 1
An air mover device induces a vacuum at the stand-alone structure, such that a flow of air carries odor from the stand-alone structure to the sewage or septic systems
Implementation Method 2
The one-way valve restricts air flow (and odor) from backflowing to the first odor conduit assembly
Data Source
AI summary
An air odor removal system with sewage or septic plumbing attachment removes odors from a stand-alone structural housing, such as a litter box or toilet bowl. The air odor removal system includes a first odor conduit assembly that is fluidly coupled, from one end, to the structural housing, and from an opposing end to an air mover device that creates a vacuum in the first odor conduit assembly. A motion sensor detects a motion event at the structural housing, and signals the air mover to power on. A second odor conduit assembly carries the odor from the air mover device to a one-way valve. A sewage plumbing conduit carries the odor from the one-way valve, and fluidly couples to a sink and a sewage storage, where the odor is finally discharged. The sewage plumbing conduit comprises a generally U-shaped pipe that restricts the odor from flowing to the sink.