Patent ID: 6082979
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: E03F

Abstract:
A vacuum toilet assembly comprising:a vacuum toilet;a vacuum tank operatively connected to said vacuum toilet so as to provide a source of vacuum to remove waste from said toilet when said toilet is flushed;an air pump connected to said vacuum tank for removing air from said vacuum tank to create a partial vacuum therein, said air pump having an inlet conduit connected to an upper portion of said tank, and an outlet; a central housing portion having said inlet and outlet therein, a first dividing wall substantially parallel to the direction of movement of air directly between said inlet and outlet and having first and second opposite surfaces each having a concave portion, and a second dividing wall preventing direct flow of air between said inlet and said outlet; a first elastomeric disk valve element engaging said concave portion of said first surface, and a second elastomeric disk valve element engaging said concave portion of said second surface; said first dividing wall having a plurality of first perforations extending between said first and second surfaces and associated with said first disk valve element, and a plurality of second perforations extending between said first and second surfaces and associated with said second disk valve element; a powered reciprocating diaphragm movable in a direction generally perpendicular to said first and second surfaces to cause air flow through said first perforations when said diaphragm moves away from said first and second surfaces, and to cause air flow through said second perforations when said diaphragm moves toward said first and second surfaces; and wherein said central housing portion has a tapered volume defined between said diaphragm and said first dividing wall, said volume having an area adjacent said first dividing wall of about 83-93% of the area adjacent said diaphragm when in a central portion intermediate the ends of its stroke; andat least one of a sound muffler and an odor filter, and a check valve and noise reducer, operatively connected to said air pump outlet.