Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates generally to toilets, and more particularly, a method and apparatus for controlling a waste outlet of a toilet.

Designing a toilet for an aircraft poses challenges that do not generally occur in ground-based toilet designs. For instance, in an aircraft, space and weight are at a premium, and using regular water-flush toilets is not practical. Also, treating malfunctions such as clogs or electrical failure is much more difficult, since space restrictions make access to plumbing nearly impossible. Moreover, a malfunction in the operation of the toilet due to electrical failure renders the toilet inoperable until the aircraft is grounded for an extended period of time for maintenance and/or replacement of the toilet. <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> all disclose value arrangements for toilets designed to be used on an arrangement. According to the present invention, such an apparatus is characterized by the characterizing features of claim <NUM>.

While the appended claims set forth the features of the present techniques with particularity, these techniques may be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:.

The disclosure is generally directed to a method and apparatus for controlling a waste outlet of a toilet. The apparatus is defined by the appended claim <NUM>.

The method is defined by the appended claim <NUM>.

Turning to <FIG> and <FIG>, a toilet configured according to an embodiment is shown. The toilet, generally labeled <NUM>, is configured to be deployed on an aircraft, and may be housed within an external housing (not shown). The toilet <NUM> includes a bowl <NUM> attached to a frame <NUM>. The toilet <NUM> also includes a waste pipe attached to the waste outlet (not shown) of the toilet bowl <NUM> and a manual flushing apparatus (generally labeled <NUM>) attached to the frame <NUM>. The manual flushing apparatus <NUM> operates to open or close a waste discharge valve of the waste outlet (shown in further detail in <FIG>). In addition to the manual flushing apparatus <NUM>, a motor-driven flushing apparatus <NUM> is also provided.

The manual flushing apparatus <NUM> includes a arm <NUM> coupled to the waste discharge valve <NUM> of the waste outlet. According to one embodiment, the arm <NUM> comprises a first arm part and a second arm part. In this case, the second arm part is coupled to the waste discharge valve <NUM>. The arm <NUM>, at one end, interfaces with the waste discharge valve <NUM> through two gears (not shown). The manual flushing apparatus <NUM> additionally includes a spring plunger <NUM> provided on the valve pinion arm <NUM>, a rail <NUM> and a carriage <NUM> configured to slide in a linear manner within the rail <NUM>, and a front guide <NUM>. The manual flushing apparatus <NUM> is actuated by a flush handle <NUM> (illustrated more clearly in <FIG>). The flush handle <NUM> is connected to the carriage <NUM> via a handle shaft <NUM>, linkage <NUM>, and a cam arm <NUM>. A torsion spring <NUM> is provided in a back support <NUM> connected to the frame <NUM> and is configured to bias the cam arm <NUM> in a direction to close the waste discharge valve <NUM>.

The operation of the manual flushing apparatus <NUM> and its components will be further described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. Certain features of the toilet have not been illustrated for the sake of clarity. Turning again to <FIG>, a front view of the toilet configured according to an embodiment is illustrated. The flush handle <NUM> is provided at a lower middle portion of the frame <NUM> in an embodiment. Of course, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that the flush handle <NUM> may be positioned at any location on the front side of the frame <NUM>. In an embodiment, additional support elements (not illustrated in the drawings for the sake of clarity) may be provided to provide support for the handle shaft <NUM>.

Turning now to <FIG>, according to an embodiment, a user operates the waste discharge valve <NUM> by rotating the flush handle <NUM> in counter-clockwise direction (when viewed from the front of the toilet) to a predetermined angle. A skilled artisan will understand that the manual flushing apparatus <NUM> may be configured to be actuated by rotating the flush handle <NUM> in a clockwise direction in other embodiments. According to an embodiment, the predetermined angle may be approximately <NUM> degrees. The flush handle <NUM> may be rotated with the waste discharge valve <NUM> fully closed (as illustrated in
<FIG>, in a partial position in between (as illustrated in <FIG>), or fully open (as illustrated in <FIG>), or any position between open and closed. According to an embodiment, a housing <NUM> is attached to the frame <NUM>, and the housing <NUM> has a slot that contains the waste discharge valve <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, when the user rotates the flush handle <NUM>, the carriage <NUM> slides up within the rail <NUM> while engaging the arm <NUM> via a track <NUM> provided on the carriage <NUM>. The engagement between the track <NUM> of the carriage <NUM> and the arm <NUM> will now be described with reference to <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, a spring plunger <NUM> is disposed at an end of the arm <NUM>. The spring plunger <NUM> has a pin <NUM> provided at an end which is configured to slide within the track <NUM> of the carriage <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an embodiment in which the arm <NUM> is positioned in an intermediate position in which the waste discharge valve <NUM> is halfway open (corresponding to the position of the waste discharge valve <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>), and the pin <NUM> is not engaged with the track <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the carriage <NUM> has a horizontal face <NUM> and a sloped face <NUM> on the one end closest to the track <NUM>. When the handle <NUM> is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the cam arm <NUM> pushes the linkage <NUM> in the direction of arrow A. The linkage <NUM>, in turn, pushes the carriage <NUM> linearly in the direction of arrow A (in an upward direction). As the carriage <NUM> moves in the direction of arrow A, the pin <NUM> slides up the sloped face <NUM> of the carriage <NUM> and falls into the track <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. Once the pin <NUM> falls within the track <NUM>, the track <NUM> constrains the motion of the pin <NUM> such that the pin <NUM> moves in a direction corresponding to the movement of the carriage <NUM>, thereby moving (e.g., rotating) arm <NUM>. Additionally, the pin <NUM> slides within the track from right to left (or vice versa) to accommodate the rotation of the arm <NUM>.

For instance, in the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, when the carriage <NUM> moves in the direction of arrow B (such as when it returns to an initial position), the pin <NUM> also moves, thereby causing the arm <NUM> to rotate in the direction of arrow C as the pin <NUM> slides within the track <NUM> from a left side of the track <NUM> to a right side of the track <NUM> (in the direction of arrow D).

Returning to <FIG>, the arm <NUM> is illustrated in an initial position where the pin <NUM> is positioned at the right side of the track <NUM>. At this time, the waste discharge valve <NUM> is completely closed. As the handle <NUM> is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as shown in <FIG>, the carriage <NUM> slides in an upward direction. As illustrated more clearly in <FIG>, the carriage <NUM> is attached to the flush handle <NUM> via a linkage <NUM> and a cam arm <NUM>, and a handle shaft <NUM>. The carriage <NUM> is restrained to vertical linear motion via the rail <NUM>. At this time, the pin <NUM> slides within the track <NUM> from the right side of the track <NUM> towards the left side of the track <NUM>. When the flush handle <NUM> is fully rotated in the counter-clockwise direction, the carriage <NUM> reaches the top portion of the rail <NUM>, the arm <NUM> is simultaneously moved upward in accordance with the movement of the pin <NUM> within the track <NUM> to the left end of the track <NUM>. This arrangement is illustrated in <FIG>. At this time, the waste discharge valve <NUM> is in a completely open state and the contents of the bowl <NUM> are evacuated.

After waiting a sufficient period of time, the user releases the flush handle and the mechanism closes the waste discharge valve <NUM>. More specifically, when the user releases the flush handle <NUM>, the carriage <NUM> slides downward as shown in <FIG>. At this point, when the flush handle <NUM> is released, the handle rotates in a clockwise direction and the carriage <NUM> slides vertically in a downward direction within the rail <NUM>. The pin <NUM> connected to the arm <NUM> slides within the track <NUM> toward the right end of the track <NUM>, thereby bringing the arm <NUM> downward and closing the waste discharge valve <NUM>. In an embodiment, the right end of the track includes a notch portion where the pin <NUM> exits the track <NUM>.

The waste discharge valve <NUM> therefore begins to move to the closed position as shown in <FIG> as a result of the downward movement of the arm <NUM>. As discussed above, the arm <NUM>, at one end, interfaces with the waste discharge valve <NUM> through two gears (not shown). A person skilled in the art will appreciate that any number of gears may be provided to control the operation of the waste discharge valve <NUM>. In various embodiments, other mechanisms may be used to interface the movement of the arm <NUM> and the waste discharge valve <NUM>. In an embodiment, the waste discharge valve <NUM> and the arm <NUM> may be the same component.

According to an embodiment, the rotational motion of the handle shaft <NUM> is constrained by the front guide <NUM> and the back support <NUM>. A torsion spring <NUM> is installed around the handle shaft <NUM> within the back support <NUM> to provide the torsion required to automatically close the waste discharge valve <NUM> and return the flush handle <NUM> to the non-operational position. The torsion spring <NUM> is installed around the handle shaft <NUM> within the back support <NUM> to provide the torsion required to automatically close the waste discharge valve <NUM> and return the flush handle <NUM> to the non-operational position. The torsion spring <NUM> is installed with an applied load to secure the carriage <NUM> in the non-operational position.

After use, the mechanism automatically returns to a non-operational state, allowing the toilet to operate automatically via an actuator or another manual flush. The operation works with ambient or differential pressures. The vacuum toilet manual flush control therefore provides a method to manually open and close the vacuum toilet waste discharge valve <NUM> in the event of toilet power loss, or an improper system shut off. This function is achieved with no additional moving parts during normal vacuum toilet operation. In addition, the mechanism serves to close the waste discharge valve <NUM>, if it fails to close during normal operation.

According to an embodiment, the manual flush control apparatus <NUM> actuates the waste discharge valve <NUM> without the use of a clutch. There is no operation of the manual override components unless a manual override is initiated by the user. The flush handle <NUM> uses rotational motion instead of a linear motion to actuate the waste discharge valve <NUM> according to an embodiment. The manual flush control apparatus <NUM> has the ability to open the waste discharge valve <NUM> from any fully open, fully closed, or partially open position. Once engaged, the manual flush control apparatus <NUM> automatically closes the waste discharge valve <NUM>. According to various embodiments, the manual flush control apparatus <NUM> does not inhibit the normal operation of the toilet.

<FIG> illustrates a back view of the toilet according to an embodiment. When the user rotates the handle the carriage <NUM> slides up within the rail <NUM>. The carriage <NUM> is attached to the handle via the linkage <NUM>. The carriage <NUM> is restrained to vertical linear motion via the rail <NUM>. The mechanism engages with the waste discharge valve <NUM> when the carriage <NUM> captures the spring plunger <NUM> on the arm <NUM>. When the carriage <NUM> reaches the full stroke the waste discharge valve <NUM> is in the fully open position. When the user releases the handle, the carriage <NUM> slides downward returning the waste discharge valve <NUM> to the closed position and the handle to the non-operating position automatically.

<FIG> shows a front view of the toilet configured according to an embodiment. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the handle <NUM> is positioned at the bottom center of the toilet. A person skilled in the art will understand that the handle <NUM> may be positioned elsewhere.

The foregoing discussion is directed to various exemplary embodiments. However, one possessing ordinary skill in the art will understand that the examples disclosed herein have broad application, and that the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be an example of that embodiment, and not intended to suggest that the scope of the disclosure, including claims, is limited to that embodiment.

Certain terms are used throughout the foregoing description to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not function. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features and components herein may be shown exaggerated in scale or somewhat schematic form and some details of the conventional elements may not be shown in interest of clarity and conciseness.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference has been made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language has been used to describe these embodiments. However, no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is intended by this specific language, and the disclosure should be construed to encompass all embodiments that would normally occur to one of ordinary skill in the art, within the scope of the claims.

The particular implementations shown and described herein are illustrative examples and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the disclosure in any way. For the sake of brevity, conventional electronics, control systems, software development, and other functional aspects of the systems and components of the individual operating components of the systems) may not be described in detail.

The steps of all the methods described herein are performable in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on scope unless otherwise claimed.

Claim 1:
An apparatus for controlling a waste outlet of a toilet (<NUM>), the apparatus comprising:
an automatic flushing mechanism (<NUM>) and a manual flushing mechanism (<NUM>), the manual flushing mechanism comprising
a flush handle (<NUM>) configured to be operated upon;
an arm (<NUM>) coupled to the flush handle;
a waste discharge valve (<NUM>) disposed at the waste outlet of the toilet (<NUM>) and coupled to the arm;
wherein the operation of the flush handle (<NUM>) is configured to move the arm (<NUM>) in a first direction;
wherein the movement of the arm (<NUM>) in the first direction is configured to move the waste discharge valve (<NUM>) to an open position; and
wherein, upon release of the flush handle (<NUM>), the arm (<NUM>) is configured to move in a second direction and to move the waste discharge valve (<NUM>) to a closed position; characterized in that the arm (<NUM>) includes a spring plunger (<NUM>) at one end and the arm (<NUM>) is coupled to the waste discharge valve (<NUM>) at an other end, the flush handle (<NUM>) is coupled to a shaft (<NUM>); the shaft (<NUM>) is coupled to a carriage (<NUM>);
wherein the carriage (<NUM>) is configured to engage the spring plunger (<NUM>) when the flush handle (<NUM>) is rotated such that a rotation of the flush handle (<NUM>) is configured to vertically move the carriage (<NUM>) in the first direction to move the spring plunger (<NUM>) of the arm (<NUM>) to move the arm (<NUM>) in the first direction and move the waste discharge valve (<NUM>) to an open position.