Patent Publication Number: US-9845592-B2

Title: Waste disposal system, and method of its use

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/207,726, filed on Jul. 12, 2016, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 62/333,327 filed May 9, 2016, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A common cleaning system used in the chemical industries is a pig cleaning system, also called a pigging system. “Pigging” involves pushing a solid or liquid through a section of piping with a “pig,” or plug, which is typically made of some sort of rubber, plastic, or foam, and that fits snugly inside the piping. The pushing of the pig inside of the piping is provided by a pressurized fluid, which may be a gas or liquid. The pig has a cylindrical shape, at least at a front portion and a rear portion thereof, in order to pass through similarly-shaped piping with the outer walls of the pig in close proximity or in contact with the inside surface of the walls of the piping. 
     Pigs are used in lube oil or paint blending to clean the pipes to avoid cross-contamination, and to empty the pipes into the product tanks (or sometimes to send a component back to its tank). Usually pigging is done at the beginning and at the end of each batch, but sometimes it is done in the midst of a batch, such as when producing a premix that will be used as an intermediate component. 
     The pigging system is frequently used for cleaning out the chemical product or contaminants in a manufacturing supply or product piping. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a waterless, self-cleaning toilet system that includes a side-opening valve to isolate the bowl of a toilet from a waste discharge piping. A side-opening valve includes a pipe section having a side opening through which passes waste from the toilet, and a means for selectively closing and sealing the side opening. 
     The present invention provides a side-opening valve, including a sleeve valve, as described herein. 
     A side-opening sleeve valve includes two lengths of co-annular cylindrical barrels. An inner barrel is rotatably disposed within an outer barrel. Each of the inner barrel and the outer barrel have a cylindrical sidewall having a shaped opening, and a central axis. The shaped opening can be rectangular, circular, oval, or other shape. For either or both shaped openings, an axial length of the shaped opening is parallel with the central axis, and the arc length of the shaped opening extends typically less than 180 degrees, including about 150 degrees or less, and about 90 degrees or less, of the circumference of the cylindrical barrel. The shaped opening in the inner barrel can be aligned with the shaped opening in the outer barrel in a first rotated position, to provide a side opening or port into the sleeve valve. As the inner barrel is rotated relative to the outer barrel, or vice versa, the shaped openings of the inner barrel and the outer barrel move out of alignment and their overlap diminishes until the inner barrel has been rotated to a second position in which the openings do not overlap, effectively closing off the side opening of the sleeve valve. 
     Each barrel sidewall also has an inside surface and an outside surface, and an inlet open end and an outlet open end. An axial pathway passes through the sleeve valve between the inlet open end and the outlet open end of the inner barrel. 
     In a first embodiment, the inlet end of the outer barrel is connected in fluid communication to an upstream pipe. Similarly, the outlet end of the outer barrel is connected in fluid communication to a downstream pipe. The outer barrel is fixed and non-rotatable, to provide a stationary surface upon which the toilet bowl can be mounted. An annular seal layer can be disposed between the outside surface of the inner barrel and the inside surface of the outer barrel, at both the inlet ends and the outlet ends, to fluidly isolate the outside surface of the inner barrel. A sleeve seal layer can be provided between the inner barrel and the outer barrel at least along the periphery of the side valve opening. The sleeve seal layer can includes a cylindrical sheet that has an opening that registers with the opening of the outer barrel. The sleeve seal layer can be secured to either the outside surface of the inner barrel, or the inside surface of the outer barrel. The sleeve seal layer seals the space between the inner and outer barrels at the periphery of the side valve opening, effectively sealing the sleeve valve so that the objects, materials and liquids within the valve volume can pass through the inner barrel of the sleeve valve without leakage. 
     In a second embodiment, the inlet end of the inner barrel is connected rotatably and sealingly in fluid communication to an upstream pipe. Similarly, the outlet end of the inner barrel is connected rotatably and sealingly in fluid communication to a downstream pipe. The outer barrel is fixed and non-rotatable, to provide a stationary surface upon which the toilet bowl can be mounted. An annular seal layer can be disposed between the inlet end of the inner barrel and the upstream pipe, and between the outlet end of the inner barrel and the downstream pipe, to fluidly isolate the outside surface of the inner barrel. In the first rotated position, objects can pass from an outside space through the two aligned openings forming the side valve opening, and into the volume within the inner barrel. When the inner barrel is rotated to the second rotated position, the object within the volume is isolated from the space outside the outer barrel. 
     In another embodiment, the inlet and outlet ends of the outer barrel are connected in fluid communication to an upstream pipe and downstream pipe, respectively, and the inner barrel moves axially within the outer barrel, whereby in a first axial position of the inner barrel, the shaped opening in the inner barrel aligns with the shaped opening in the outer barrel to provide a side opening or port in the sleeve valve, and in a second axial position of the inner barrel, the shaped opening in the inner barrel is out of alignment and does not overlap with the shaped opening in the outer barrel, closing off the side opening of the sleeve valve. 
     The present invention also provides a waste disposal system for a toilet that is self-cleaning, uses no or very little water, and is extremely low odor. In one embodiment, the waste disposal system includes a side-opening valve. Once the waste has been deposited into the opening in the side-opening, and the side-opening valve is closed to isolate the waste within the closed side-opening valve, a cleaning system discharges the waste to a municipal sewer system or to a septic system. The cleaning system is based on pig cleaning technology, which clears the waste within the piping using a pipe pig. A pipe pig is a cylindrical plug that fits very tightly inside of a cylindrical pipe and is pushed or pulled by a pumped or pressurized pigging fluid on one side of the pipe pig, to push and move a material on the other side of the pipe pig through the pipes. A pipe pig can be made of a variety of materials and styles, though it is commonly made of rubber, plastic or foam rubber. Such systems are commercially available from multiple companies including Girard Industries (Houston, Tex.) and G. A. Kiesel GmbH. Pigging is used to push a solid or liquid waste through a section of piping, by pushing the pig through the inside of the piping with a pigging fluid, which can include a gas or liquid. The pig has a cylindrical, peripheral shape, at least at a front face and a rear face, in order to pass through circular piping with the outer walls of the pig in close proximity or in contact with the inside walls of the piping. The front face of the pig serves as a piston to push the waste ahead of the pig. The pig isolates the pigging fluid from the waste, avoiding direct and intimate contact between the pigging fluid and the waste. The pigging fluid can be pumped or pressurized to force the pig under fluid pressure upward, against gravity, so that the system can operate in any location at any elevation. Waste can be pushed with the pigging system up to elevations to reach a toilet where a sufficient supply of flush water may be unavailable for a conventional toilet. In addition, the pig cleaning system can push a waste uphill under pressure, to any access to a sewer, which permits a water-less toilet of the invention to be placed in a subfloor or basement of a building or other low elevation where a conventional flush toilet otherwise cannot operate because the toilet location is below the elevation of an access to a sewer system and the flush water cannot flow uphill against gravity. 
     The waste disposal system, employing the side-opening valve, reduces significantly or eliminates the amount of water needed to operate the toilet in a convenient and sanitary way. Typically the water usage reduction is at least 90%, and more typically at least 95%. The side-opening valve receives a waste material deposited within the bowl and falling down through the opening and into the side-opening valve. When the side-opening valve is moved to a closed position, the bowl of the toilet is isolated from the interior of the side-opening valve and from the discharge piping. The only amount of water necessary is for spraying down and cleaning the inside of the bowl after use, which runs into the interior of the side-opening valve before the side-opening valve is closed. In a non-limiting example, a toilet spray ring can be mounted at the top and inside of the toilet bowl and a series of spray nozzles can be configured to use 8-12 ounces of water under pressure to spray clean the sides and/or bottom of the bowl after each use. The cleaning water can be reused water that is captured shower or laundry water, and repurposed for toilet bowl cleaning. The system can thus be net waterless. 
     The receptacle for the waste material can include a toilet bowl or equivalent structure to facilitate the process of depositing waste material into the waste disposal system. 
     The means for integrating the waste receptacle (toilet) with, and selectively isolating it from, the cleaning system can alternatively include a closable valve disposed in a section of piping between the toilet and a waste-receiving section of piping in the cleaning system. Examples of a closable valve is a ball valve or a sliding plate over an opening. 
     The present invention also provides a method for discharging waste material from a toilet to a sewer system that involves the use of little or no water, the method comprising a flush cycle, the flush cycle including: a) providing a toilet having no pool of water in the bowl, with an opening in the bottom of the bowl that opens into a selectable closable side opening of a side-opening valve; b) closing selectively the side opening of a side-opening valve after waste material that has been depositing into the bowl has passed though the closable side opening and into the side-opening valve; c) providing a pig cleaning system that includes a pressurized fluid system including a source of pressurized fluid, a supply piping in fluid communication with an upstream end of the side-opening valve, a pig disposed in the supply piping, and discharge piping in fluid communication with a downstream end of the side-opening valve that discharges to a sewer system; d) activating the pig cleaning system to pass pressurized fluid into the supply piping at a position upstream of the pig, to push with the pressurized fluid the pig in the upstream end of the side-opening valve, into the side-opening valve, and out the downstream end of the side-opening valve, and through the discharge piping, to push the waste material out of the side-opening valve and into the sewer system, and stopping the pushing of the pig; and e) reversing the pig cleaning system to withdraw fluid from the supply piping, with the stopped pig in fluid communication with the supply piping, to pull the pig back through the discharge piping, through the side-opening valve, and to an upstream position of the pig from the side-opening valve; and optionally f) opening selectively the side opening of a side-opening valve; thereby discharging waste material from the toilet to the sewer system while using little or no water. The side-opening valve can be a sleeve valve. 
     An aspect of the invention includes the closing of the side opening of the side-opening valve as a direct response to the closing of a lid of the toilet after the depositing of the waste material. An aspect can also include the activating of the pig cleaning system by the closing of the lid of the toilet, or by a selectable switch. 
     A further aspect of the invention is a venting of the opening in the bowl of the toilet by drawing air through the discharge piping. Another aspect of the invention includes venting the discharge piping to air at a position downstream of the stopped pig. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a side-opening sleeve valve of the present invention in a side-opened position. 
         FIG. 2  shows an axial sectional view the side-opened sleeve valve taken through line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of the side-opened sleeve valve taken through line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  shows the side-opening sleeve valve of  FIG. 1  in a side-closed position. 
         FIG. 5  shows an axial sectional view the side-closed sleeve valve taken through line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional view of the side-closed sleeve valve taken through line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  shows an alternative embodiment of a side-opening sleeve valve in a side-opened position. 
         FIG. 8  shows the side-opening sleeve valve of  FIG. 7  in a side-closed position. 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a side-opening sleeve valve of the present invention, in a side-opened position. 
         FIG. 10  shows a cross-sectional view of the sleeve valve of  FIG. 9  in the side-opened position, taken through line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  shows the side-opening sleeve valve of  FIG. 9  in a side-closed position. 
         FIG. 12  shows a cross-sectional view of the sleeve valve of  FIG. 11  in the side-closed position, taken through line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  shows a perspective view of a side-opening valve of the present invention, in a side-opened position. 
         FIG. 14  shows a lateral cross-sectional view of the side-opened side-opening valve taken through line  14 - 14  of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  shows an axial sectional view the side-opened side-opening valve taken through line  15 - 15  of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 16  shows the side-opening valve of  FIG. 15  in a side-closed position. 
         FIG. 17  shows a schematic of a toilet including a side-opening sleeve valve, and a waste management system that employs a pig cleaning system, in an initial state. 
         FIG. 18  shows toilet and waste management system in a further state in which a waste material has been deposited into the side-opened sleeve valve. 
         FIG. 19  shows toilet and waste management system in a further state in which the opening in the sleeve valve has been closed, and the pigging system has been activated, pushing the waste material with the pig out of the sleeve valve, through the piping system, and into the sewer system. 
         FIG. 20  shows toilet and waste management system in a further state in which the pigging system has been reversed, pulling the pig back to its initial position. 
         FIG. 21  is a detailed view of a portion of the terminal section of the piping shown in  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 22  illustrates a toilet bowl having an open lower end that is mounted onto the sleeve valve. 
         FIG. 23  shows a further embodiment of a side-opening valve having a waste-receiving piping section having a side port with an opening, and an axially-sliding plate that sealably closes the opening. 
         FIG. 24  shows an alternative embodiment that replaces the sleeve valve with a side-opening valve that consists of a conventional “T”-type waste-receiving piping section and a flow valve to connect the toilet to the “T”-type piping section. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1-3  show a first embodiment of a side-opening valve, as a sleeve valve  1  that includes two lengths of co-annular cylindrical pipe. An inner pipe defines an inner barrel  3  that is rotatably disposed within an outer pipe that defines an outer barrel  13 . The larger diameter outer barrel  13  is longer than the smaller diameter inner barrel  3 . A standard plumbing coupling receptacle, illustrated as a flange  48  can be secured at inlet and outlet ends  18  and  19 , respectively, of the outer barrel  13  to an external piping assembly. An inner shoulder  47  of each flange retains the smaller inner barrel  3  in its axial location along the length of the larger outer barrel, and is sealed fluidly to the end edges  8 , 9  of the inner barrel  3  with o-ring seals  49 . 
     The inner barrel  3  has a cylindrical sidewall  4  having a shaped opening  5 , and a central axis  100 , and the outer barrel  13  has a cylindrical sidewall  14  having a shaped opening  15 , and a central axis  200 . Inner barrel sidewall  4  has an inside surface  6  and an outside surface  7 , and an inlet open end  8  and an outlet open end  9 , including an axial pathway  10  through the inner barrel  3  of sleeve valve  1 . An axial length  5   a  of the opening  5  is parallel with the central axis  100 , and the arc length  5   b  of the shaped openings  5  extends typically less than 90 degrees of a circumference of the inner barrel  3 . Similarly in the outer barrel  13 , an axial length  15   a  of the opening  15  is parallel with the central axis  200 , and an arc length  15   b  of the shaped opening  15  extends typically less than 90 degrees of a circumference of the outer barrel  13 . The size of the openings  5 , 15  can be longer, or narrower, along the axis of the valve, or wider around the circumference of the valve. The side opening enables a much larger entry opening since a standard “T” pipe has an opening size limited to the inlet pipe diameter. A wider opening around the circumference requires greater relative rotation of the outer barrel  13  and the inner barrel  3  to adequately seal the side valve opening  12 . 
       FIG. 1  shows the sleeve valve  1  in a first rotated position with the shaped opening  5  in the inner barrel  3  aligned with the shaped opening  15  in the outer barrel  13 , to form a side valve opening or port  12  as a passage from the outside space  2  into the inner volume  22  of the inner barrel  3 . As the inner barrel  3  is rotated, the shaped openings  5  and  15  of the respective inner barrel  3  and the outer barrel  13  move out of alignment and diminishes the overlap as, the inner barrel  3  rotates to a second rotated position in which the openings  5 , 15  do not overlap, and the valve port is closed, shown in  FIGS. 4-6 . 
     An annular seal  44  can be disposed at both the inlet ends  8 ,  18  and the outlet ends  9 , 19 , between the outside surface  7  of the inner barrel  3  and the inside surface  16  of the outer barrel  13 , to fluidly isolate the outside surface of the inner barrel  3  inboard of the seal  44  from the inner space  22 . The annular seal  44 , shown as an o-ring disposed within a groove  45  in the outside surface  7  of the inner barrel, with the o-ring sealing against the inside surface  16  of the outer barrel  13 . Alternatively, the annular seal o-ring can be disposed within a groove in the inner surface of the outer barrel, with the o-ring sealing against the outside surface of the inner barrel. 
     A sleeve seal layer  30  is provided between the inner barrel  3  and the outer barrel  13  at least along the periphery of the side valve opening  12 . The sleeve seal layer includes a sheet material that has an opening  35  that registers with the opening  15  of the outer barrel  13 . The sleeve seal layer  30  extends axially beyond the arc length edge  5   b  of the inner barrel  3 . In the illustrated embodiment, the sleeve seal layer  30  is disposed within a wide, annular groove  21  formed into the inside surface  16  of the outer barrel  13  and overlapping the opening  15 , and the sleeve seal layer is a cylinder having the opening  35  that registers with the outer sleeve opening  15 . Typically, the planarity of the sleeve seal layer  30  is uniform, and the thickness is slightly more than the depth of the annular groove  21 , in order to frictionally seal against the outside surface  7  of the inner barrel  3 . 
     In the first rotated position shown in  FIG. 1 , objects (as a non-limiting example, waste) can pass from the outside space  2  through the side valve opening  12  formed by the two aligned openings  5 , 15 , and into the inner volume  22  within the inner barrel  3 . Rotating the inner barrel  3  to the second rotated position, shown in  FIG. 4 , closes the sleeve valve port  12 , thereby isolating the objects within the volume  22  from the space  2  outside the outer barrel  13 .  FIGS. 1 and 4  illustrate a means for rotating the inner barrel  3  within the outer barrel  13 . The outer barrel  13  has a widened slot  23  extending about 90 degrees along and through the circumference of the sidewall  14 . A post  25  extends from the outside surface  7  of the inner barrel  3 , and through the widened slot  23  in, and beyond the outer surface  17  of, the outer barrel  13 . Dragging or pushing by force F the post  25  along the slot  23  rotates the inner barrel  3  between the first rotated position ( FIG. 1 ) and the second rotated position ( FIG. 4 ). The actuation of the post  25  can be accomplished either manually or mechanically, for example, with a solenoid actuator. In the illustrated embodiment, the slot  23  and post  25  are positioned between the seal  44  and the sleeve seal layer  30  to avoid fluid communication and leakage through the slot  23 . 
     The components of the sleeve valve  1  can be constructed of any material commonly used in valve manufacture including plastics, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), porcelain, ceramic, and metals and alloys thereof, including aluminum, copper, brass, iron, steel, stainless steel, and other alloy, as determined by the application for corrosion, pressure, temperature, and other concerns. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , the inlet end  18  of the outer barrel  13  includes a means for connecting the outer barrel  13  in fluid communication to an upstream pipe  41 , illustrated as a flange  48 . Similarly, the outlet end  19  of the outer barrel  13  includes a means for connecting the outer barrel  13  in fluid communication to a downstream pipe  43 , illustrated as a flange  48 . The means for connecting the outer barrel  13  can also be provided by a threaded connection, or similar or equivalent connection. 
     In another embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7-8 , a sleeve valve  101  has the inlet end  118  of the inner barrel  103  is connected rotatably and sealingly in fluid communication to the upstream pipe  41 . Similarly, the outlet end  119  of the inner barrel  103  is connected rotatably and sealingly in fluid communication to a downstream pipe  43 . 
       FIGS. 9-12  show another embodiment of a sleeve valve  201 . The sleeve valve  201  has an outer barrel  213  having an inlet end  218  and an outlet end  219  connected in fluid communication to an upstream pipe  41  and downstream pipe  43 , respectively, and an inner barrel  203  that moves axially within an annular groove  233  formed into the inner surface  216  of the outer barrel  213  along axis  100 . In a first axial position shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the shaped opening  5  in the inner barrel  203  can be aligned axially with the shaped opening  15  in the outer barrel  213 , to provide a side opening  12 . In a second axial position shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the shaped opening  5  in the inner barrel  203  is out of alignment and does not overlap with the shaped opening  15  in the outer barrel  213 , effectively closing off the side opening of the sleeve valve  201 . 
       FIGS. 13-16  show another embodiment of a side-opening valve  301 . The side-opening valve  301  has a single outer barrel  313  having an inlet end  318  connected in fluid communication to an upstream pipe  41  and an outlet end  319  connected in fluid communication to a downstream pipe  43 . The outer barrel  313  has a side opening  312  parallel to the long axis  100  of the barrel  313 . Vertical parallel sidewalls including a pair of sidewalls  321  and a pair of end walls  322  and  324  form a cylinder side entry port  320  that extends from the entire perimeter of the side opening  312  of the barrel  313  having an outer opening  325  parallel with the long axis  100  of the outer barrel  313 . The side entry port  320  can be mechanically and sealingly attached to the outer barrel  313 , and is illustrated manufactured as a single unit with the outer barrel  313 , requiring no connecting seams. The side entry port  320  can include an entry flange  326  that lies in a plane disposed in parallel with a tangent to the barrel  313 , to provide a flat and stationary surface upon which a toilet bowl can be mounted. The side entry port  320  has a lateral opening  327  forming in the end wall  324  to allow entry and movement of a sliding plate valve  330 . The opposed sidewalls  322  each have a lateral groove  328  formed along the upper inside surface, to provide channels that retain the lateral side edges  334  of the plate  332  as the plate  332  slides axially along the grooves  328 . An end groove  329  is also formed in the end wall  322 . The lateral grooves  328  also extend through the end wall  324 , adjacent the lateral opening  327 , to allow the plate  332  to slide between a first position, shown in  FIG. 15 , withdrawn away from the opening  321  of the port  320 , and a second position, shown in  FIG. 16 , covering the opening  321  of the port  320 , with the end edges  336  disposed within the end groove  329 . A seal  338  can be formed between the grooves  328  and  329  and the lateral and end edges  334 , 336  of the plate  332 , and between the plate  332  and the lateral opening  327  formed in the end wall  324 , to prevent leakage of fluid around the plate  332  in its closed, second position. The sliding plate valve  330  includes a planar body  332  having a lateral width between lateral side edges  334  that is configured to register within the side grooves  328  in the opposed sidewalls  321 , and a longitudinal length sufficient to cover the opening  321  in the upper end of the side entry port  320  in the closed position shown in  FIG. 16 . A shaft  336  or other handle or fitment can be actuated under force F, manually or by a mechanical or electro-mechanical actuator shown in  FIG. 23  as actuator  340 , and well known to persons skilled in the art, and which can include without limitation a servo motor, or a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator, and a solenoid actuator, to slide axially the plate  332  under the force F between with first and second positions. Typically the length of the plate  332  is longer than the length of the opening  321  such that the plate  332  in the closed position shown in  FIG. 16  also extends through the end wall  324 , and typically at least twice as long as its lateral width. The upper portion of the end wall  324  is elongated axially to extend the length groove  328  within the end wall  324  for stability and of the plate  332 . 
       FIG. 17  shows a waste management system  50  according to the present invention that employs a side-opening valve, illustrated as the sleeve valve  1  described above. The waste management system includes a toilet bowl  40  having a lid  140 , that receives wastes W, and having an open lower end  42  that is configured to mount onto the sleeve valve  1  with the lower end  42  aligned with the opening in the outer wall  13  of the sleeve valve  1 , as shown in  FIG. 22 . Though not illustrated, the bottom opening  42  of the toilet bowl  40  can have the same shape as the side valve opening of the sleeve valve  1 , or a different shape, configured for leak-proof attachment to the sleeve valve  1 . 
     The waste management system  50  uses a pig cleaning system. Once the waste has been isolated within the closed sleeve valve  1 , the waste management system  50  discharges the waste to a sewer system or to a septic system. 
     The waste management system  50  includes a pigging fluid pumping assembly  60 , and a venting system  70 , and a power and control system  90 . In the following description, the pigging fluid is typically a flowable liquid. In an alternative embodiment, the pigging fluid is a compressible gas that can include air. 
     A pig  80  can consist of a cylindrical plug in order to pass through circular piping, with the outer walls of the pig  80  in contact with the inside walls of the piping. Pipe pigs are made of a variety of materials and styles, though are most commonly made of rubber, plastic or foam rubber. 
     A fluid container  52  is sized sufficiently to hold all of a pigging liquid L of the system, and can include a vent  54  to compensate for changes in the fluid level, and an inlet/outlet port  56  for emptying, draining and filling the fluid container  52 . An optional filtration system  58  can be included which circulates the fluid from the fluid container  52  through a filtering media to remove any waste or debris that the fluid might pick up when working through the piping assembly and enables constant re-use of the pigging liquid. 
     The pigging liquid L can be water or other aqueous solution, or an oil or other hydrophobic or water-immiscible liquid, which is pumped to push and pull the pipe pig through the piping. The pigging liquid can include a water-immiscible oil, including a vegetable oil, which can spontaneously separate from water and other water soluble waste material. Practically any liquid can be used as the pigging fluid, provided it is non-flammable and non-corrosive, and suitable for a broad range of ambient temperatures. 
     The fluid pumping system  60  includes a fluid pump  62  that pumps the pigging fluid under pressure into the piping system behind, or upstream of, the pig  80 . The pump  62  can be a positive displacement piston or gear pump, a centrifugal pump, or other suitable pumping means. The pump should also be a reversible pump that can pump from the piping assembly back into the fluid container  52 . Alternatively, the suction and discharge piping arrangement of the pump can be configured to send the pigging fluid either from or into the fluid container. 
     The piping system typically includes lengths of smooth-bore transfer piping  64  that can withstand working pressures that might be experienced behind the pig  80 . The transfer piping is sized uniformly to the diameter needed for smoothly and consistently driving the pig  80  through the piping assembly. The transfer piping can be standard plumbing piping, including PVC, ABS, metal, aluminum, copper, brass, iron and other plastic, metal or ceramic material, provided it meets criteria to withstand the working pressures. The piping system optionally includes a pressure relief system  66  that will activate in the event of excessive fluid pressure in the piping assembly, and relieve back to the fluid container. The elbows and other joints typically have longer radii to avoid binding the pig in the turns. 
     In the alternative embodiment, the pigging fluid can be a compressible gas. A gas compressor or blower provides a supply of compressed gas, or a vacuum capacity, suitable for operating the pig cleaning system. A fluid container can comprise a pressurizable and/or vacuum-rated container sized and rated for pressure sufficiently to hold the compressed gas, or vacuum, as required by the system. The compressed gas system also provides vent piping, pressure relief valves, and an optional filtration system as needed. 
     The piping system also includes a stop feature at the terminal end  68  of the piping assembly  60 . In the illustrated embodiment shown in  FIG. 21 , the stop feature can be a short section of pipe  69  that has a smaller internal diameter (ID) than the transfer piping  64 , so that the pig  80  cannot proceed further into the section of pipe  69 . The pressure relief system  66  can activate upon excessive fluid pressure in the piping assembly exceeding a high pressure limit when the pig  80  dead-ends into the smaller ID piping  69 , to relieve and return the discharge from the pump  62  back to the fluid container  52 . Preferably, the liquid L in the pigging system remains in fluid communication with the back end  82  of the pig  80 , and the piping behind the pig  80  has no open passage or vent, ensuring withdrawal and return of the pig  80  when the direction of liquid pumping in the system is reversed. In addition, the stop device  69  is configured to cause the objects (for example, solid and liquid waste (W) to be discharged into a segment S of the sewage system. For example, the sewage system can include a pipe or conduit into which the waste is pushed, which causes the wastes to move by gravity into a municipal sewage system or a septic system. A one-way flow valve, such as a flapper valve or a swing check valve, can be installed at the terminal end  68  of the pipe assembly to prevent the waste W or any odors from the sewage system from re-entering the piping assembly  60 . 
     An alternative stop feature can comprise a stop sensor  86 , also shown in  FIGS. 19 and 21 , that is configured to detect the presence of the pig  80  inside the piping  64  at a flush termination position, and signals a controller in the control system  90  to start or stop the pump  62 , and to control the direction of the pigging fluid flow in the flush cycle. The pig  80  can include or contain a ferric metal material, a radio frequency device, a magnetic strip, or other media enabling a sensor position outside the sidewall of the piping to detect the pig inside the piping, especially at the three system locations including the flush initiation position, the flush termination position, and a pig installation and removal station (described hereinafter), as well as anywhere along the piping system. The pig position sensor can be located along the piping and positioned on or even inside or within the wall of the piping system, including at a location where the piping pig should be stopped. The sensors detect the presence of the pig by any number of means including radio frequency, magnetic media, or other forms of detection. 
     The piping system  64  also includes a return sensor  88  that detects the presence of the pig  80  inside the piping  64  and is positioned upstream of the sleeve valve  1  in a flush initiation position as shown in  FIG. 17 . The return sensor  88  signals the controller in the control system  90  to stop the pump  62  when the pig  80  has returned to its flush initiation position. The flush initiation position can be just upstream and adjacent to the sleeve valve  1 , as shown, or in another location upstream from the sleeve valve, including within a pig installation and removal station, described below. 
     The piping system  64  also includes the vent system  70 , disposed at the discharge end of the piping. The vent system  70  provides a means for venting the piping assembly, at or near the terminal end  68 , to avoid drawing back the waste W and vapors from the sewer system S through the piping  64 . Preferably, the vent system  70  uses a separate venting pipe  72  with a vent valve  74 . The vent valve  74  can be a controlled valve that is moved between open and closed positions by the controller device of system  90 . The vent valve  74  can be closed during operation of the flushing cycle, as described below, to prevent waste W from being pushed into the vent system, and opened to allow fresh air downstream and ahead of the pig while withdrawing the pig to its starting position. As the pig is being drawn back to the flush initiation position, the vent valve  74  is opened to avoid drawing a vacuum ahead of the pig  80 , to prevent the pipe  64  from collapsing. In addition, the vent valve  74  can remain open after the pig has been returned to its initial position and the sleeve valve  1  has been returned to the open position ( FIG. 17 ), to place the venting system into air flow communication with the toilet  40 , to provide an exit for odors. Alternatively, the vent valve  74  can be a one-way flow valve, such as a flapper valve or a swing check valve, which autonomously allows air flow from the venting pipe  72  into the piping system  60 , but prevents fluid flow or waste from the piping system  60  into the venting pipe  72 . 
     The vent system  70  can also include a fan or blower  76 , which draws fresh air into the system  50  at the toilet  40 , via the open sleeve valve  1  and piping  64 , to more effectively and efficiently eliminate malodors in the toilet room, during and after use. The fan  76  is in fluid communication with the vent pipe, and can be activated when the user of the toilet begins use, in order to draw air and associated odors down through the open sleeve valve  1 , and the piping  64  and out through the vent pipe of the venting system  70 . The process draws a small amount of air from the bathroom to the outside air through the sanitary waste pipe to eliminate odors associated with the use of the system. The air fan  76  can be controlled to operate only when the person uses the toilet, such as raising the seat or cover, and to shut off when the seat or cover is closed, or when the sleeve valve  1  is closed. 
     An alternative embodiment of a waste management system is shown in  FIG. 23 , in which a side-opening valve  301  has a waste-receiving piping section having a side port with a side opening, and an axially-sliding plate that sealably closes the side opening and isolates the interior of the waste-receiving piping section from the lower end of the toilet. An example of the side-opening valve  301  is described herein and illustrated in  FIGS. 13-16 , operated with an actuator  340 . 
     Another alternative embodiment of a waste management system is shown in  FIG. 24 , in which the side-opening valve, shown as a sleeve valve  1  in the earlier embodiment, is replaced with a waste valve including a pipe section having an inlet end, and an outlet end, and a side entry port, and a side entry valve connected to the side entry port. The pipe section can comprise a conventional “T”-type waste-receiving piping section  401  and a conventional fluid valve  405  communicating between the lower end  42  of the toilet  40  and a side-entry leg  404  of the “T”-type waste-receiving piping section  401 . The remaining two legs  402 , 403  of the “T”-type waste-receiving piping section  401  are connected with conventional plumbing fittings to the upstream  41  piping and downstream  43  piping. The handle  406  of the conventional fluid valve  405  can be actuated manually or by a mechanical or electro-mechanical actuator, as well known to persons skilled in the art, which can include without limitation a servo motor, or a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator, and a solenoid actuator, to turn the valve between a closed position and an open position. 
     The piping system also includes a pig installation and removal station  78  ( FIG. 17 ) that provides a means to access the inside of the piping system to remove and install a pig as routine maintenance requires. 
     The piping system also includes the power and control systems  90 . Power is typically mains electrical power to drive the motor of the fluid pump, any venting fan, and to operate various valves and solenoids. The control system can include a main microprocessor, software and programming, low voltage power, and circuits and connections to the devices and sensors in the system. An optional link to a network or the www or cloud can also be provided for electronic diagnoses, maintenance, and remote monitoring and system control. The system can also include a battery for backup power in case of a mains power outage or other emergency. 
     The toilet bowl  40  can also include a bowl cleaning system. An embodiment of a bowl cleaning system is illustrated in  FIGS. 18 and 22 , which can include a manifold ring  142 , mounted at the top and inside of the toilet bowl  40  and having a one or more spray nozzles  143 . The toilet manifold ring  142  is positioned at the top of the inside of the bowl  40 , and includes a series of nozzle elements or spray means, including a plurality of holes in the manifold ring  142 , disposed along the annular ring. The one or more nozzles are configured to dispense water or other aqueous solution onto the sidewalls and bottom of the bowl. After each use of the toilet, the system can spray 8-12 ounces of water under pressure through the series of nozzles to clean the toilet bowl  40 . The waste management system can still be considered “waterless” because the cleaning water can be captured from shower water or laundry water and re-purposed for the toilet bowl cleaning. 
     The water for the bowl cleaning system can be provided by a water reuse system  141  that captures and pipes ( 144 ) repurposed water from other uses (for example, but not restricted to, showers, laundry water, bathtub water, and sinks). The capture and repurposed water for cleaning the toilet bowl can result in essentially zero fresh, potable water usage for the toilets. In general, the toilet  40  does not require a pool of standing water in the bottom bowl  42  as is present in conventional toilets. 
     The power and control system  90  can use standard program logic control (PLC) functionality to ensure the electronic components of the system operate in the proper sequence, and to perform system safety checks to avoid damage or injury that may result from the system executing a next step. The PLC can be located anywhere in the system where it can be reasonably accessed for programming and maintenance purposes. 
     Flush Cycle: 
     A flush cycle starts in an initial position shown in  FIG. 17  with the sleeve valve  1  in a closed position, and the pig  80  has been withdrawn to a section of piping upstream from the sleeve valve. A user of the toilet  40  can raise a lid  140  which causes opening of the sleeve valve  1  and can activate the vent fan  76 . After a user has completed use of the toilet, the waste W has fallen into the bowl  40  and down into the open sleeve valve  1 . A bowl cleaning system can deliver the re-purposed water from a water reuse system  141  (or fresh water) through spray nozzle(s)  143 , in an amount of 8-12 fluid ounces, thereby cleaning any waste on the inside walls of the bowl  40  as well as pushing down any toilet paper not already inside of the open sleeve valve  1 . 
     The user then activates the flushing system by pushing a start button, or manually operating a lever or mechanical switch, or more preferably, for safety reasons, by closing the toilet lid  140 . Activating by closing the toilet lid prevents a person from putting their hand down into the opening  42  of the toilet  40  and into the opening  12  of the valve  1  as it is closing. Upon activation by closing the toilet lid  140 , the power and control systems  90  causes the sleeve valve  1  to close, by rotating the inner barrel  3  (to the position shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ), thereby isolating the waste W within the sleeve valve  1  ( FIG. 18 ). Then the venting fan  76  is shut off, and the vent valve  74  is closed. 
     Once the valve  1  is closed, the fluid pump  62  is turned on to pump pigging fluid L from the fluid container  52  into the sanitary waste piping  64 , pushing the pipe pig  80  forward to pass through the closed sleeve valve and plunging the waste W and waste liquid ahead as the pig  80  is pushed toward the final destination at the terminal end  68  of the piping  64 . When the presence of the pig  80  arriving at the terminal end  68  is detected by the stop sensor  86 , the pump  62  is shut off, stopping the pig  80  abruptly, and depositing the waste W into the section S of the sewer or septic tank, as shown in  FIG. 19 . Backflow of waste W into the venting pipe  72  is prevented by the closed vent valve  74 . 
     Upon controlled instruction, and as or after the vent valve  74  is opened, the discharge of the pump  62  can be reversed, or the piping arrangement around the pump can be configured, to pump the pigging fluid L from the piping system  60  back into the fluid container  52 . The pig  80  is drawn backward under suction by the withdrawn pigging fluid L, while fresh air is drawn through the vent valve  74  in behind the retreating pig  80 . The pig  80  travels in reverse back toward the pump  62  until it reaches the return sensor  88 . Upon detecting the presence of the pig  80  at the terminal end  88 , the pump  62  is shut off, halting the movement of the pig  80  ( FIG. 20 ). The sleeve valve  1  remains closed to complete the flushing and cleaning cycle, and is ready for the next use. 
     The sequence of flushing and cleaning operations can be controlled by simple, common program logic controls. The system  50  can also be powered through a battery system to enable limited use during relatively short term power outages. During power outages, the battery can be used at least to open and close the sleeve valve  1 . Alternatively the bowl cleaning system can also be run on battery power sufficient to move any waste and associated odors down into the sleeve valve  1 . The pump  62  can also be configured be operate just sufficiently to move waste W out of the sleeve valve  1  and into the downstream piping  43 . 
     A single waste management system  50  can handle multiple toilets positioned at different locations and in the same area, such as in a series. While a common fluid container and pumping system can be used, the pigging system can serve a series of plurality of toilets through a manifold system and automatic solenoid valves arranged on a the manifold to supply pigging fluid to each toilet as needed. Depending on the capacity and controls of the system, the multiple toilets can be flushed one at a time or in a sequence, or simultaneously. Depending upon the locations and vicinity of the multiple toilets, each individual toilet and sleeve valve can include an individual pipe pig, pipe pig sensors, vent line, valve and fan. 
     In one embodiment of a multiple toilet system, a discharge pipe of the pigging fluid pump connects to a pigging fluid supply manifold to supply pigging fluid to, or remove pigging fluid from, any one of the multiple toilets, with pigging fluid flow being controlled by a separate solenoid-controlled flow valve at outlet ports of the supply manifold. In another embodiment, each unique toilet and sleeve valve has a dedicated piping to a union pipe fitting (a “Y” or “cleanout” fitting) to enable a common discharge piping for the remaining distance to the sewer system. In another embodiment, where only one pipe pig can be pushed at a time, either by the supply pump or through to the shared segment of the pipe running to the sewer system, the pigging cycles for the multiple toilets can be sequence, which may result in a delay of the pigging of one of the toilets while another toilet is being pigged. In this circumstance, the controls can be configured to delay the pigging of a toilet, by completing the bowl cleaning step, closing the sleeve valve, and completing the pigging cycle when the pigging of the other toilet is completed.