US3633218A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shipboard recirculation sewage system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-08-24
•
Granted: 1972-01-11
•
Expires: 1990-08-24
Abstract
Abstract Recirculation sewage system for shipboard use having a holding tank which enables the toilet flushing liquid to be recycled following removal of sizable particulate matter therefrom in the tank. The discharge from the toilet is received as incoming waste in the tank, wherein the heavier solids settle out from the moving liquid. The liquid moves in the tank through an interposed screen in a path to the inlet of a float-supported swinging suction pipe in the tank. The pipe withdraws, as the toilet flushing water, only from a surface layer and the interposed screen, which can be movable or fixed, screens out other solids from the thus decanted liquid. Screening is by a screen wall fixed in the tank in the liquid path in one embodiment, or by a screen basket carried by the float so as to move with the suction pipe in an interposed position across the inlet.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert D Lekberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:43
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03D; E03D5/00; E03D5/016; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86236; Y10T137/86252
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
For use with a shipboard toilet, for holding human waste accumulating therein from the toilet and for recirculating to the toilet primarily liquid screened and decanted from such waste: a marine holding tank arranged with means of connection to the toilet at a point in the tank for accepting the waste accumulating from the toilet, plus a connection having an internal extension from a point in the tank for the pickup liquid to be decanted, screened, and recirculated as described; the internal extension of the last-named connection comprising a pickup tube having an end attached to a wall of the tank, and having a free end; and a float screen secured to the pickup tube at the free end thereof whereby the latter will, by swinging the pickup tube about the attached end thereof, follow and draw only screened liquid from, and draw only from a surface layer of liquid in, the marine holding tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
For use with a shipboard toilet, for holding human waste accumulating therein from the toilet and for recirculating to the toilet primarily liquid screened and decanted from such waste: a marine holding tank arranged with means of connection to the toilet at a point in the tank for accepting the waste accumulating from the toilet, plus a connection having an internal extension from a point in the tank for the pickup liquid to be decanted, screened, and recirculated as described; the internal extension of the last-named connection comprising a pickup tube having an end attached to a wall of the tank, and having a free end; and a float screen secured to the pickup tube at the free end thereof whereby the latter will, by swinging the pickup tube about the attached end thereof, follow and draw only screened liquid from, and draw only from a surface layer of liquid in, the marine holding tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention of claim 1, the amount of free screen on said float screen and the internal dimensions of said tank constructed, proportioned, and arranged to insure at least about: ten square inches of effective screening area per gallon of tank capacity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention of claim 2, characterized by: the tank formed of translucent material whereby the liquid level is manifest from a visual inspection; the screen being float-supported by flotation material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 3, further characterized by: the translucent and flotation materials each being a plastic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 2, characterized by: the float screen being float supported by a body of closed cellular expended polymer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The invention of claim 1, characterized by: the pickup arm and float screen constraining one another during ship motion to rise and fall in unison as an assembly generally at right angles to and interposed in the surface wave path, such assembly breaking each main surface wave into a plurality of leading and lagging components in the tank which peak out of phase.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention of claim 6, further characterized by: the float screen disposed so as to be always broadside to tank surface waves moving along one transverse axis in the tank, thus causing that component of a main wave which breaks over the float screen to lag behind the main wave and to peak later.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The invention of claim 7, further characterized by: the float screen generally paralleling tank surface waves moving along the other transverse axis, retaining in the screening a wave part from the volume of a main wave and releasing same behind the main wave, as a component part lagging behind the main wave and peaking later.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
140 words
Float-supported pickup structure for a marine sewage holding tank, and the like, for use in decanting liquids from the tank contents such as from human wastes to be so decanted from, comprising: a hollow pickup arm having a free end which pickup arm is swingable at its free end, up and down about a secured end provided thereon and providing means of securement to an arm swing connection on the tank; a generally rectangular screen basket with an opening provided in a first side thereof; a connection between the hollow pickup arm and the screen basket, interconnecting the basket opening and the arm free end; and a slab float of expanded cellular plastic, generally in the plane of, and secured to, one side of the screen basket, said float being on a different side from the side with the opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
140 words
Float-supported pickup structure for a marine sewage holding tank, and the like, for use in decanting liquids from the tank contents such as from human wastes to be so decanted from, comprising: a hollow pickup arm having a free end which pickup arm is swingable at its free end, up and down about a secured end provided thereon and providing means of securement to an arm swing connection on the tank; a generally rectangular screen basket with an opening provided in a first side thereof; a connection between the hollow pickup arm and the screen basket, interconnecting the basket opening and the arm free end; and a slab float of expanded cellular plastic, generally in the plane of, and secured to, one side of the screen basket, said float being on a different side from the side with the opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 9, the slab float characterized by a closure member forming the top side of the screen basket and closing off same thereat.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
The invention of claim 9, characterized by: said one side constituting the top side of the screen basket, the buoyancy of the slab float and its distance from the basket opening immersed therebelow so related and arranged that the free end of the pickup arm draws liquid at a distance maintained substantially constantly at about 2 inches below the liquid surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of claim 9, the one side characterized by a lengthwise extending side of the basket, the plastic slab float at each end extending beyond the corresponding end of the screen basket.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1199851A
Cited
US717932A
Cited
US1528003A
Cited
US1644248A
Cited
US2207378A
Cited
US2296713A
Cited
US3079612A
Cited
US3320621A
Cited
US3487475A
Cited
US3472390A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-10 | 1975-07-12 | 1976-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-10 | 1979-07-12 | 1980-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-10 | 1983-07-12 | 1984-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |