Patent ID: 7207073

Claim:
In a vacuum assisted system for a flushable toilet having a bowl capable of containing a waste liquid, a flushing actuator, and a discharge port, the improvement comprising: a discharge passage having first and second openings, the first opening fluidly connectable to the discharge port of the flushable toilet, and the second opening connected to a waste outlet; and a source of vacuum; a flap valve fluidically coupled in the discharge passage for controlling the flow of waste liquid trough the discharge passage, the flap valve being in a normally closed position at the time of actuation of a flushing actuator and during the application of vacuum to the discharge passage; a valve fluidically coupled to the vacuum source and to the discharge passage between the flap valve and the first opening, the valve operative, in response to activation of the flushing actuator, to apply vacuum from the vacuum source to the discharge passage to withdraw waste liquid from the toilet bowl; and control means, responsive to the actuation of the flushing actuator, for controlling the valve, the control means being operative to maintain the valve in a position applying vacuum to the discharge passage for pre-determined period of time after actuation of the flushing actuator, and closing the valve prior to the waste liquid from the toilet bowl reaching the valve in the discharge passage.