Recirculating toilet

Claim 2

A recirculating toilet system comprising in combination: a. toilet means having a bowl, including a substantially nonadhering inner surface to prevent retention of waste matter; b. waste pipe means coupled to said toilet bowl for draining the contents thereof; c. nonaqueous flushing fluid, substantially immiscible with water and human wastes and having a relatively lower density and specific gravity for floating thereon; d. separating means including a separating tank connected to receive the output of said waste pipe means, said tank having a substantially vertical barrier means for providing a waste storage portion in said tank; e. flushing fluid intake means in said separating tank including a float member capable of floating substantially at the surface of said flushing fluid for withdrawing flushing fluid therefrom; and f. fluid recirculating means coupled to said intake means and said toilet means, including filter and pump means for applying filtered flushing fluid withdrawn from said separating tank to said toilet means for use in disposing of wastes deposited therein.

Claim 3

A recirculating toilet system as in claim 1, above, further including drain means including a pump coupled to the base of said separating tank for removing collected wastes therefrom.

Claim 4

The recirculating toilet system of claim 1, above, wherein said barrier means include screen member permeable to said flushing fluid.

Claim 5

The recirculating toilet system of claim 1, above, wherein said flushing fluid intake means are mounted in the tank portion remote from said waste storage portion.

Claim 6

A recirculating toilet system as in claim 1, above, wherein said fluid recirculating means further include a coalescer and waste return means coupled to said separating means, for returning collected wastes to said waste storage portion thereof.

Claim 7

The recirculating toilet system of claim 1, above, further comprising actuating means connected to said fluid recirculating means and operable in response to a predetermined raise in level of flushing fluid in said separating means for initiating operation of said fluid recirculating means.

Claim 8

The recirculating toilet system of claim 1, above, wherein said toilet means further include a tank having float controlled valve assembly coupled to said fluid recirculating means, for interim storage of flushing fluid.

Claim 9

The recirculating toilet system of claim 6, above, further including control means connected to said valve assembly and said fluid recirculating means, for operating said filter and pump means in response to the state of said valve assembly.

Claim 10

A recirculating toilet system comprising in combination: a. toilet means including a plurality of toilets, each having a bowl, including a substantially nonadhering inner surface to prevent retention of waste matter; b. waste pipe means coupled to each of said toilet bowls for draining the contents thereof; c. nonaqueous flushing fluid, substantially immiscible with water and human wastes and having a relatively lower density and specific gravity for floating thereon; d. separating means including a separating tank connected to receive the output of said waste pipe means, said tank having a substantially vertical barrier means for providing a waste storage portion in said tank; e. flushing fluid intake means in said separating tank including a float member capable of floating substantially at the surface of said flushing fluid for withdrawing flushing fluid therefrom; f. flushing fluId storage means coupled to said toilet means for supplying flushing fluid thereto; and g. fluid recirculating means coupled to said intake means and said flushing fluid storage means, including filter and pump means for applying filtered flushing fluid withdrawn from said separating tank to said storage means for use in disposing of wastes deposited in said toilet means.

Claim 11

A recirculating toilet system comprising in combination: a. toilet means including a plurality of toilets, each having a bowl, including a substantially nonadhering inner surface to prevent retention of waste matter; b. waste pipe means coupled to each of said toilet bowls for draining the contents thereof; c. nonaqueous flushing fluid, substantially immiscible with water and human wastes and having a relatively lower density and specific gravity for floating thereon; d. separating means including a separating tank connected to receive the output of said waste pipe means, said tank having a substantially vertical barrier means for providing a waste storage portion in said tank; e. flushing fluid intake means in said separating tank including a float member capable of floating substantially at the surface of said flushing fluid for withdrawing flushing fluid therefrom; f. flushing fluId storage means coupled to said toilet means for supplying flushing fluid thereto; and g. fluid recirculating means coupled to said intake means and said flushing fluid storage means, including filter and pump means for applying filtered flushing fluid withdrawn from said separating tank to said storage means for use in disposing of wastes deposited in said toilet means.

Claim 12

A recirculating toilet system as in claim 9, above, further including drain means including a pump coupled to the base of said separating tank for removing collected wastes therefrom.

Claim 13

The recirculating toilet system of claim 9, above, wherein said barrier means include screen member permeable to said flushing fluid.

Claim 14

The recirculating toilet system of claim 9, above, wherein said flushing fluid intake means are mounted in the tank portion remote from said waste storage portion.

Claim 15

A recirculating toilet system as in claim 9, above, wherein said fluid recirculating means further include a coalescer and waste return means coupled to said separating means, for returning collected wastes to said waste storage portion thereof.

Claim 16

The recirculating toilet system of claim 1, above, further comprising actuating means connected to said fluid recirculating means and operable in response to a predetermined raise in level of flushing fluid in said separating means for initiating operation of said fluid recirculating means.

Claim 17

The recirculating toilet system of claim 9, above, further including a plurality of flush control means respectively connected to each of said toilets and said flushing fluid storage means, and each operable to apply a predetermined charge of flushing fluid to the respective toilet from said flushing fluid storage means.