Recirculating toilet with filter screen assembly

Claim 2

In a self-contained toilet system that includes a toilet bowl with an outlet, a tank for holding the liquid of the system and in which said bowl is supported, and pump-and-filter apparatus for circulating a quantity of relatively clear liquid from the tank to the bowl for return to the tank, the improvement comprising a filter screen assembly positioned in said tank extending between said bowl and the bottom wall of the tank and enclosing the outlet of the bowl so that solid matter discharged from the bowl will be enclosed within the filter screen assembly, the portion of the filter screen assembly nearest said inlet end of the pump-and-filter apparatus converging from the bottom to the top so that cleansing of the screen assembly during evacuation through said discharge opening is facilitated because of the negative slope.

Claim 3

In the self-contained toilet system that is defined in claim 1, wherein said tank has a normally closed discharge opening in said bottom wall and said filter screen assembly also encloses said discharge opening.

Claim 4

In the self-contained toilet system that is defined in claim 2, wherein said pump-and-filter apparatus has an inlet end located within said tank outside the confines of said filter screen assembly.

Claim 5

In a self-contained toilet system that is defined in claim 1 wherein said filter screen assembly has a screen with about a number 18 wire mesh.

Claim 6

In a self-contained toilet system that is defined in claim 4, wherein said filter screen assembly includes a frame with members that encircle the screen adjacent to the upper and lower ends of the screen, and the lower end of the screen is flared radially outward and projects under the member that encircles the screen at the lower end.

Claim 7

In a self-contained toilet system that is defined in claim 5, wherein the upper end of said screen is flared radially outward and projects along the lower wall of said bowl.

Claim 8

A self-contained toilet system comprising a tank for holding liquid and waste material, a toilet bowl mounted in said tank and having an outlet in the lower portion of the bowl for discharge of material into said tank, pump apparatus for circulating a quantity of relatively clear liquid from the tank to the bowl for return through said outlet to the tank, and a filter screen assembly positioned in said tank extending between the bottom wall of said bowl and the bottom wall of said tank and enclosing the outlet of the bowl so that liquid and waste material discharged through said outlet will flow into the confines of said screen assembly, said filter screen assembly including a screen in the shape of a truncated cone, the base of the cone being located on the bottom wall of the tank and the upper end being adjacent to the bottom wall of the bowl in enclosing relation to the outlet from the bowl, said pump apparatus having a suction inlet end located in said tank outside the confines of said filter screen assembly, and said tank having a normally closed evacuation opening in its bottom wall within the confines of said filter screen assembly.

Claim 9

A self-contained toilet system comprising a tank for holding liquid and waste material, a toilet bowl mounted in said tank and having an outlet in the lower portion of the bowl for discharge of material into said tank, pump apparatus for circulating a quantity of relatively clear liquid from the tank to the bowl for return through said outlet to the tank, and a filter screen assembly positioned in said tank extending between the bottom wall of said bowl and the bottom wall of said tank and enclosing the outlet of the bowl so that liquid and waste material discharged through said outlet will flow into the confines of said screen assembly, said filter screen assembly including a screen in the shape of a truncated cone, the base of the cone being located on the bottom wall of the tank and the upper end being adjacent to the bottom wall of the bowl in enclosing relation to the outlet from the bowl, said pump apparatus having a suction inlet end located in said tank outside the confines of said filter screen assembly, and said tank having a normally closed evacuation opening in its bottom wall within the confines of said filter screen assembly.

Claim 10

The self-contained toilet system that is defined in claim 7, wherein the interior surface of the cone nearest to the suction inlet of said pump has a negative slope.