Incinerator toilet with removable catalyst container

An electrical incinerator toilet having an incinerator chamber and a removable catalyst container for holding a removable catalyst cartridge or unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,408 discloses an electrically actuated incinerator 
toilet having a catalyst container fixed to the toilet into which catalyst 
pellets for reducing odor are inserted and removed for replacement. The 
toilet is effective although clean out and insertion of the catalyst 
pellets can be time consuming. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the invention to provide an electrical incinerator 
toilet with a removable catalyst container for holding a removable 
catalyst cartridge or unit which makes replacement of the catalyst simple 
with no clean-up required. 
In the embodiment disclosed, wall structure is secured to the inner 
cylindrical side wall of the chamber around perforations. A removable 
container is provided having inner and outer ends with said inner end 
being movable into and out of the wall structure by way of said opening 
thereof. A catalyst means is movable as a single unit into and out of the 
container by way of said outer end of said container. When the movable 
container with its inner end is located in said wall structure with the 
catalyst unit located in said removable container, gases may be drawn from 
the incinerator chamber by way of said perforations, said wall structure, 
said removable container and said catalyst unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INCINERATOR TOILET AND ASH PAN OF U.S. PAT. NO. 
4,823,408 
Referring to FIG. 1, the incinerator toilet comprises a housing 11 formed 
by a rear wall 13, a front wall 15, two side walls, one of which is 
identified at 17, a bottom wall 19, and a top 21. The front, rear, sides, 
and bottom walls and the top 21 are preferably formed of mild steel. The 
forward portion of the top 21 includes a recessed upper bowl portion 23 
forming an upper opening 25 which extends downward from the top 21. 
Located above and around the bowl 23 is a hinged seat 27 adapted to be 
located in the position shown or moved to an upward position. A hinged lid 
29 is adapted to fit over the seat 27. The lid 29 also may be moved to an 
upward position independently of the seat. The seat 27 and the lid 29 are 
hinged to the top 21 by way of a hinge arrangement illustrated at 31. A 
lower bowl portion 33 is located below the upper bowl portion 23 and is 
transversely divided into two halves 33A and 33B which are pivotally 
mounted to the underside of the top 21 by way of hinges 35. When the 
toilet is being used, the halves 33A and 33B will be in their closed 
position whereby a cone-shaped paper insert may be located within the 
lower bowl portion 33. 
The incinerator toilet comprises an open ended incinerator chamber member 
41 located below the bowl and which has a circular electrical heating coil 
43 located in its central opening 42. The chamber member 41 is mounted on 
a semi-circular metal support 44. An ash pan 45 is slideably mounted on a 
metal step support 47 formed on the housing bottom 19 within the chamber 
support 44 and below the central opening 42 of the chamber member 41. Heat 
insulation materials 47A is located between the support 47 and the bottom 
19. The ash pan 45 has a handle 49 on its front side which is accessible 
by means of a removable panel (not shown) but which will be located below 
the front wall 15. A blower wheel 61 and a motor 63 are provided for 
drawing gases from the interior of the chamber 41 and the pan 45 and then 
through a heat activated odor reducing catalyst 81 and then out of a rear 
vent 65 which is connected to the rear wall 13 of the housing by way of a 
collar 67. An incinerator chamber lid 69, which fits into a recessed seat 
70 formed at the upper end of the chamber 41, is provided for closing the 
upper end of the chamber 41 while the heater coil 43 is being energized 
for disposing of the waste received in the pan 45. The outer walls of the 
lid 69 are formed of stainless steel with heat insulation material 69A 
located within the walls. 
When the incinerator toilet is being used by a person, the lower bowl 
halves 33A and 33B will be located in their closed position as shown in 
FIG. 1 and a cone-shaped paper insert located within the lower bowl 
portion 33. When it is desired to deposit the waste in the paper cone 
within the pan 45, the chamber lid 69 will raised upward and out of its 
recessed seat and then swung to the side and out of the way to allow the 
hinged halves 33A and 33B to swing open to allow the paper cone and the 
waste to drop through the central opening 42 of the chamber 41 and into 
the pan 45. A linkage mechanism controlled by a foot pedal suitable for 
allowing the bowl halves 33A and 33B and the chamber lid 69 to operate in 
this manner is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,890,653, granted on Jin. 24, 
1975, and entitled "Incinerator Toilet Having A Vertically Movable 
Incinerator Chamber Lid". After the paper cone and waste have been 
deposited in the pan 45, the foot pedal again will be actuated to return 
the chamber lid 69 to its closed position and to return the bowl halves 
33A and 33B to their closed positions. A switch then may be actuated to 
complete a circuit to the electrical coil 43 and to the blower motor 63. A 
timer is set thereby causing the heater and exhaust blower to come into 
operation, staying on until the incinerator process and cooling process 
are completed. Gases from the chamber 41 are drawn through the heat 
activated catalyst 81 for reducing the odor and then through the ventline 
65. Residual ash is collected in the removable ash pan 45. 
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 7, the incinerator chamber member 41 is 
formed by a cylindrical shaped inner side wall 101 and a partially 
cylindrical shaped outer side wall 103 spaced from the partially 
surrounding the inner side wall 101 forming a partially annular heat 
insulation holding space 105 therebetween. The heat insulation is 
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4. A U-shaped outer catalyst chamber side wall 
107 is coupled to the inner wall 101 and to the outer wall 103 for forming 
a catalyst chamber or container 109. The U-shaped member 107 has two legs 
109 and 111 and an arcuate portion 113 having a radius greater than the 
radius of the wall 103. The edges 109A and 111A of the legs 109 and 111 
are connected to the outer surface of the cylindrical member 101 and the 
outer sides of the legs 109 and 111 are connected to the edges 103A and 
103B of the partially cylindrical shaped member 103 with the arcuate 
portion 113 extending outward beyond the outer wall 103 on one side of the 
diameter of the wall 103 forming a catalyst chamber 115 for receiving the 
heat activated odor reducing catalyst 81. Perforations 121 are formed 
through the arcuate portion 113 of the U-shaped member 107 and 
perforations 123 are formed through the cylindrical shaped inner wall 101 
between the edges 109A and 111B of the legs of the U-shaped member 107. 
U-shaped brackets 125 and 127 are secured against the outside of the legs 
109 and 111 and to the outside and the inside of the wall members 101 and 
103 whereby the heat insulation chamber 105 and the catalyst chamber 107 
are separated from each other. A second U-shaped wall member 131 having 
legs 133 and 135 and an arcuate shaped portion 137 is provided with the 
legs 133 and 135 being located against the outward portions of the legs 
109 and 111 and with their edges 133A and 135A secured to the edges 103A 
and 103B of the outer wall member 103 such that the outer portion of the 
U-shaped member 131 including the arcuate shaped wall portion 137 extends 
outward of the wall portion 137 forming a collection chamber 139. 
A top wall 141 comprising an annular wall portion 143 and an outward 
extending portion 145 is coupled to the upper ends of the wall members 101 
and 103 and 107 and 131 and a bottom wall 151 comprising an annular wall 
portion 153 and an outward extending portion 155 is coupled to the lower 
ends of the wall members 101 and 103 and 107 and 131 to effectively seal 
the heat insulation chamber 105 from the catalyst chamber 115 and the 
collection chamber 139 and all of the chambers 105, 115, and 139 from the 
atmosphere. The outward extending portion 145 of the top wall 141 has an 
aperture 161 formed therethrough with a vertical wall 163 extending around 
the aperture and upward from the top portion of the wall portion 145 such 
that the aperture 161 is in fluid communication with both the catalyst 
chamber 115 and the collection chamber 139. A removable lid 165 is adapted 
to fit over the wall 163 and hence over the opening 161 and to be secured 
to the top wall 141 with bolts 167. 
An exhaust port or opening 171 is formed through the wall portion 173 of 
the U-shaped member 131 at its lower end midway between its side walls 133 
and 135. An exhaust tube 173 is located in the aperture 171 and an outlet 
chamber 181 has an inlet tube 183 located in the tube 173 and an outlet 
185 located below the blower 161. A U-shaped baffle 191 has its lower end 
192 secured and sealed to the inside of the outward extending portion 155 
of the bottom wall 151 and its side legs 193 and 195 secured to the inside 
of the legs 133 and 135 of the U-shaped member 131. The top 197 of the 
baffle 191 is lower than the top wall 141 of the chamber member and above 
the exhaust port 171, 173. Thus, when the blower is operating, the gases 
from inside of the chamber member 41 and the ash pan 45 pass through the 
perforations 123, through the heat activated catalyst 81, through the 
perforations 121, above the top edge 197 of the baffle 191 through the 
exhaust port 171, 173 and into and through the exhaust chamber 181 by way 
of its inlet 183 and outlet 185 and then by way of the blower 161 through 
the exhaust vent 65. 
The perforated section of the inner wall 101 has an arc length of about six 
inches and a height of about three and one-half inches. The height of the 
arcuate portion 113 also is about three and one-half inches. The distance 
between the perforated section of the cylindrical wall 101 and the arcuate 
portion 113 is about two inches such that the catalyst chamber has a total 
volume of about forty cubic inches. The collection chamber has a thickness 
from wall 113 to wall 137 is about one and one-quarter inches with an 
areal extent of six by four or twenty four square inches, having been 
reduced from ten by four or forty square inches of the earlier versions. 
Thus, the pressure distribution across the outer face of the perforated 
catalyst chamber is more nearly equalized because of the greater thickness 
and smaller area of the catalyst chamber. The catalyst is easily added 
through the port or opening 161 by removing the cap 163. Alternatively, 
old or deteriorated catalyst can be vacuumed out through the opening 161 
which has dimensions of about one and one-quarter of an inch by four 
inches which is adequate for the nozzle of the ordinary home vacuum. Dust 
from the powdered catalyst generally accumulates in the lower portion of 
the catalyst chamber or container and is carried into the collection 
chamber along its lower level. The metal plate or baffle 191 is located 
midway between the walls 113 and 137 of the collection chamber and extends 
upward to a position about two thirds of the height of the collection 
chamber. The baffle 191 is sealed to the bottom 155 of the collection 
chamber. The baffle 191 thus causes dust to drop out and to be collected 
in the bottom in front of the baffle whereby the dust is prevented from 
entering the blower and depositing on the blower impeller. The collected 
dust can be vacuumed out from time to time. 
Only a small portion of air drawn into the toilet goes into the incinerator 
chamber--only enough to permit complete incineration of the waste. 
Approximately ninety-five percent of the intake air traverses the space 
about the incinerator chamber thereby carrying away heat from the exterior 
incinerator wall. 
Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the ash pan 45 is a composite ash pan formed 
by an outer pan 201 of stainless steel and an inner or insert pan 201. The 
pan 45 is readily removed for emptying or replacement when needed at an 
inconsequential cost because of its simplicity of manufacture. The center 
portion of the inner pan 203 may be raised to close proximity to the 
heater 43 and yet readily conducts gathered heat to its lower portion for 
increased rate of evaporation of liquids accumulated in the bottom 
portion. In other words, the aluminum conducts heat into a portion not 
directly exposed to the radiant heat of the heater 43 itself. The outer 
pan 201 comprises an outer annular side wall 205 and a bottom wall 207. 
The inner pan 203 comprises an annular surrounding side wall 209, an 
annular lower wall portion 211 extending inwardly from the lower end of 
the annular surrounding side wall 209, and a raised portion 213 spaced 
inwardly of the annular surrounding side wall 209. The raised central 
portion comprises an annular inner side wall 215 extending upwardly from 
the annular lower wall portion 211 such that the annular inner side wall 
215 is spaced from the annular surrounding side wall 209 with the raised 
portion 213 forming an upper platform connected to the upper end of the 
annular inner side wall 215. In the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, the 
lower portion of the outer pan 201 is shaped similar to the lower portion 
of the inner pan 203 whereby the lower portion of the inner surface of the 
outer pan 201 and the outer surface of the inner pan 203 engage each other 
when the inner pan is inserted in the outer pan. 
Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the outer pan 201 is the same as that of the 
outer pan of FIGS. 9 and 10. The inner pan 203 is modified in that its 
annular wall 209A is higher and the annular inner wall 215 is higher such 
that the upper wall 213A extends upward to about the same height as the 
upper edge of the wall 209A and both the upper wall 213 and the upper edge 
of the surrounding wall 209A extend to nearly the height of the upper edge 
of the outer pan 201. The outer surfaces of the walls 215A and 213A do not 
engage the bottom of the outer pan 201 and are spaced therefrom as shown 
in FIG. 12. In the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12, the platform 213A is 
raised substantially above the lower portion 211 of the inner pan whereby 
the solid portion of the human waste is separated from the liquid portion 
with the solid portion being deposited on the platform 213A and the liquid 
portion flowing to the lower portion 211A. Thus, the solids deposited on 
the platform 213A are maintained closer to the heater thereby decreasing 
the time of incineration and increasing the efficiency and lowering the 
amount of energy required. The liquids in the bottom portion 211A 
evaporate rapidly since the aluminum conducts heat into the lower portion 
211A which may not be directly exposed to the radiant heat of the heater 
itself. Since the net or effective volume of the composite pan is reduced 
by virtue of the raised portion 215A and 213A, the height of the wall 209A 
is made approximately the same as that of the raised portion 215A and 213A 
to effectively increase the volume of the inner pan 203. 
In one embodiment, the outer pan 201 is formed of 304 stainless steel. Pan 
201 has a height of four inches and the outside diameter of wall 205 is 
ten inches. The wall thickness of pan 201 is 0.062 of an inch. The inner 
pan 203 is formed of a drawable aluminum such as 3003H14 aluminum. The 
wall thickness of the pan 203 is 0.125 of an inch. It is to be understood 
that the pans 201 and 203 may have different dimensions and formed of 
different variations of stainless steel and aluminum respectively. 
Referring to FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, the arrangement for supporting the 
electrical heater coil 43 within the chamber 41 comprises three removable 
brackets 197 having hooks 197A formed at their upper ends. The brackets 
197 have slots 197B adapted to receive the turns of the heater coil 43. 
The hook 197A of the brackets are inserted in slots 199 formed in the 
inside wall of the cylindrical member 101 for securing the brackets to the 
inside of the wall 101 while holding and supporting the electrical coil 
43. The brackets 197 can be removed from the inner wall 101 to allow the 
coil 43 to be removed therefrom. 
The coil 43 has two terminal ends 43A and 43B. Referring specifically to 
FIGS. 2 and 8 there will now be described an arrangement for facilitating 
the insertion of the terminal ends of the coil 43 through the inner and 
outer walls of the chamber 41 thereby facilitating removal and replacement 
of the coil for servicing. The terminal ends 43A and 43B have tabs 43AT 
and 43DT which are removed when the terminal ends are being inserted or 
removed from the chamber 41. A large rectangular shaped aperture 301 is 
formed through the inner wall 101 and two spaced apertures 303A and 303B 
are formed through the outer wall 103 on one side of the catalyst chamber 
as shown in FIG. 2. When the inner and outer members 101 and 103 are 
assembled, the apertures 303A and 303B will be in alignment with the large 
aperture 301. Also provided is an inner cup shaped member or pan 305 and 
an outer cup shaped member or pan 307. Member 305 has two small apertures 
305A and 305B formed in its back end 305C and a large opening 305D 
surrounded by a flange 305E. The flange 305E is welded to the outer 
surface of the wall 101 such that the apertures 305A and 305B are in 
alignment with the apertures 303A and 303B respectively and such that the 
opening 305D is in alignment with the opening 301. Pan 307 also has two 
small apertures 307A and 307B formed in its back end 307C and a large 
opening 307D formed in its front end and surrounded by a flange 307E. 
Opening 307D is adapted to be closed by a lid 309 which may be attached to 
the flange 307E as shown in FIG. 8. The back end 307C is welded to the 
outside surface of the outer wall 103 such that apertures 307A and 307B 
are in alignment with apertures 303A and 303B. The lid 309 has a pair of 
small apertures 303A and 303B for receiving the terminal ends 43A and 43B 
of the coil. Located within the pan 307 is heat insulation material 311 
which may be hair-like mineral wool. 
When assembling the heater coil in place, the lid 109 will be removed. The 
heater coil then will be located within the slots 197B of the brackets 197 
such that the brackets 197 are located 120 apart. The coil and the 
brackets then will be tilted as the assembly is inserted in the interior 
of the chamber 41 to allow the terminal ends 43A and 43B to be inserted 
through the large aperture 301; through the smaller aperture 305A, 303A, 
305B, and 303B, 307A, 307B; and then out through the large opening 307D of 
the pan 307. The heat insulation 311 then may be inserted within the pan 
307 and packed around the terminal ends after which the lid 309 may be 
inserted in place. Suitable heat resistant flexible seals 313, 317, 315, 
and 317 may be provided to insure minimum of heat loss through the sealing 
pan 307. 
In one embodiment, the walls 101, 103, 107, 131, and 137 and 151 and 141 of 
the chamber 41 may be formed of suitable mild steel. The heat activated 
catalyst 81 may be aluminium oxide (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3) pellets although it 
is to be understood that other types of heat activated catalyst may be 
used or mixed with the aluminum oxide. The heat insulation material 106 
located in the chamber 105 may be mineral wool. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to FIGS. 13-19, there will be described the modified catalyst 
chamber of the invention. In these Figs. like reference numerals identify 
the same components as in the embodiments of FIGS. 1-12. Perforations 123 
are formed through the cylindrical wall 101 in a rectangular area and 
metal side wall structure 701 having walls 701A-701D forming a rectangular 
chamber when viewed from the open end thereof is secured to the wall 101 
by tack welding at 703 the flanged ends 705 of the wall structure 701 to 
the wall 101. The wall structure 701 has an outer opening at 707 leading 
to the perforations 123. A removable container 711 rectangular in cross 
section as seen from its open end, is provided having an inner end wall 
713 with perforations 715 and an outer open end 717. The four side walls 
of the container 711 are identified at 711A-711D. The container 711 can be 
inserted into the wall structure 701 through opening 707 with its end 713 
located next to the perforations 121 and removed therefrom. 
A guide 721 is attached to the four side walls 711A-77D of the container 
711 for holding a seal 723 for forming a seal between the edges of the 
walls 701A-701D and the guide and container 711 when it is located in the 
wall structure 701. The guide 721 comprises four walls 721A-721D welded to 
the container walls 711A-711D respectively which extend outward and four 
side walls 721SA-721SD welded to the walls 721A-721D respectively forming 
a space 731 around the container 711 with a forward opening 733. Located 
in the space 733 and against the inside of the walls 721A-721D and around 
the container walls 711A-711D is the seal 723 which is formed of a soft 
seal material such as high temperature mineral wool woven string. When the 
end 713 of the container 711 is inserted into the opening 707 of the wall 
structure 701, its walls 701A-701D enter the space 731 formed between the 
side walls 721A-721D of the guide and the side walls 711A-711D of the 
container until the edges 701E of the walls 711A-711D of the container 
engage and press against the seal 723 which forms a seal between the edges 
701E of the walls 701A-701D and the walls 721A-721D of the guide to 
prevent odor from by-passing the odor reducing catalyst under action of 
the suction induced by the exhaust blower downstream from the catalyst. 
The catalyst comprises a single unit or cartridge 741 which is insertable 
into and removable from the container 711 by way of its open end 717. In 
one embodiment, the catalyst 741 comprises a plurality of monolithic 
tubular members 741T bonded together in a parallel relationship. The 
members 741T have openings formed therethrough with their open ends facing 
opposite facing sides 743 and 745 of the member 741. The tubular members 
741T may be 1/8 of an inch square in cross section. The number 741 may 
have dimensions of 6 inch wide by 2 inches high by 2 inches deep such that 
if the square dimensions of the tubular members 741T are 1/8 inch by 1/8 
inch, there will be 48.times.16 tubes in the structure 741. The catalyst 
structure 741 is commercially available from Met Pro. Co. of Penn. and the 
tubes 741T comprise ceramic coated with a heat activated catalyst of 
platinum and iridium for reducing odor. The catalyst structure 741 is 
inserted into the back end of the container 711 through its opening 717 
with its open tubular ends at its sides 743 and 745 facing the 
perforations 715 of wall 713 and the open end 717 respectively. The side 
743 is moved against the inside of the wall 713 and a plate 751 having 
perforations 751P is located in the container 711 against the side 745. 
The container 711 then is inserted into the wall structure 701 opening 707 
with its perforated wall 713 facing the perforations 123 of cylindrical 
wall 101 until the edges 701E engage the seal 723. In order to replace the 
catalyst structure 741, the container 711 is removed from the wall 
structure 701, the perforated plate 751 and the catalyst structure 741 are 
removed from the container 711. A new catalyst structure 741 is inserted 
into the container 711 with the plate 751 and the container reinserted 
into the wall structure 701. Thus replacement of a spent catalyst is 
simple with no clean-up required. 
FIG. 19 illustrates another type of catalyst cartridge 761. It comprises a 
six sided metal box, having aluminum oxide pellets 81 located therein. The 
box has two sides 761S with perforations 763 formed therethrough to allow 
gases to be drawn therethrough for reducing the odor from the incinerator 
chamber. The unit 761 is inserted into the container 711 with its sides 
761S facing the perforations 715 and open end 717 but the plate 751 is not 
used. Thus the catalyst unit 761 is easily replaced when the catalyst is 
spent. The unit 761 has advantages over the unit 741 in that ash cannot as 
easily block gas flow therethrough. 
The container 711 will have a depth sufficient to locate its open end 717 
below the intake of the exhaust blower 61. In modifying the toilet of 
FIGS. 1-12 to use the catalyst structure of FIGS. 13-19, the catalyst 
chamber structure 107, 131, 191, 181 will be removed and the structure 701 
attached as shown in FIG. 13 to allow use of the container 711 and 
catalyst cartridge 741 or 761. The perforations 123 will be formed through 
the wall 101 within the confines of the wall structure 701. The upper and 
lower walls 143 and 155 will be completely annular and will not have the 
wall portions 145 and 155. The rest of the components of the incinerator 
will be retained. An end with an upward extending opening may be removably 
secured to the open end of the container 711 such that the upward 
extending opening is located directly below the exhaust blower 61. 
In using the apparatus of FIGS. 13-19, the exhaust motor 63 will be 
operated to draw gases from the chamber 41 by way of perforations 123, 
perforations 715, the tubular members 741T of the unit 741, perforations 
751P of plate 751, the open end 717 of the container 711 and out of the 
toilet by way of the exhaust fan 61 and exhaust 65. If the catalyst 
cartridge 761 is used the gases will flow through the pellets 81 by way of 
perforations 763 of sides 761S.